The Supreme Court has turned down a plea that effectively asked it to take a second look at its decision to quash the FIRs against students who protested over the NEET-UG paper leak. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made it clear that the court acted out of concern for the young protesters and what the cases could do to their futures.

What the Supreme Court said on Friday

The court dismissed the petition on Friday, observing that it was essentially a request to review its earlier order. The CJI told advocate Nedumpara, who appeared for the petitioner, that his client should read the order, and that the petition was like seeking a review of the order quashing the FIRs under Article 142 of the Constitution.

The petitioner, L Ramanathan, had filed the plea before the court passed its 1 September order, according to the reports.

“Young students, not hardened criminals”

Explaining why the court stepped in, the CJI pointed out that the Delhi High Court had refused to quash the FIRs, but the Supreme Court intervened after considering that the accused were young students and not hardened criminals. He said the court has to consider the students’ parents and their future, and that the bench did not want them to have to keep coming to court.

The CJI also responded to the argument that the court should not have used Article 142 for this purpose. He said there is no guarantee that the court will pass 100 per cent correct orders every time.

How we got here

The FIRs relate to protests held between 20 and 25 July across the country, including at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, over the NEET 2026 paper leak. After public outrage, the Supreme Court clarified on 3 August that authorities could close or withdraw FIRs registered against students in connection with the protests.

On 1 September, the court used its powers under Article 142 to quash all the FIRs filed in connection with those protests. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) hailed the order as historic, and it called off a protest it had planned for 5 September.

Why this matters

The ruling closes, for now, a challenge to one of the court’s most student-friendly decisions of the year. For the students and their families, it means the criminal cases remain quashed, and they will not have to deal with repeated court appearances. For the courts, it is a reminder that Article 142, which lets the Supreme Court do “complete justice”, is a power the bench is willing to defend when it uses it.
 

© Copyright 2026. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Vygr Media.