Supreme Court Quashes All FIRs Against CJP Protesters

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted major relief to protesters involved in the July 20 demonstrations led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), ordering the quashing of FIRs registered in connection with the protests between July 20 and 25.

The court directed that cases related to those incidents across states and Union Territories should be treated as closed. It also barred authorities from registering fresh FIRs over the same protest-related events.

However, the order allows the Delhi Police to proceed against 2,873 individuals identified in its application as having serious criminal antecedents. Any action against them will depend on establishing their involvement in offences such as causing bodily harm or damaging property.

The decision followed assurances given by the Centre and several states that cases against protesters from the July 20-25 period would not be pursued and that no fresh cases would be filed over the same incidents.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that applications had been submitted by the Centre and the governments of Bihar, Assam, West Bengal and Maharashtra seeking to give effect to the assurances made to CJP leaders on July 25.

During the hearing, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant emphasised the need for both sides to approach the issue constructively. Mehta said the government was committed to resolving the matter positively.

CJP Withdraws September 5 Protest

After the Supreme Court’s directive and the government’s assurances, the CJP spokesperson Saurav Das announced the withdrawal of the protest march that it had planned to hold in Delhi on September 5.

The CJP had earlier announced this march, protesting against the Centre’s non-performance of its promises regarding the withdrawal of cases against alleged protesters and compensation to the families of NEET-UG 2026 aspirants who took their own lives.

Das said the group would now look forward to the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions.

Centre Assures Compensation

The Centre also reminded that it will compensate the families of students who had died by suicide after the NEET-UG 2026 exam was cancelled.

The government wanted 3 months to work out the details of the compensation mechanism. The Supreme Court instructed the Centre to finalise it within that time.

The ruling effectively brings an end to the legal proceedings arising from the specified July protests for most participants, while retaining the possibility of action against those covered by the criminal-antecedent exception.