Supreme Court quashes all FIRs against student protesters; orders compensation

In a significant ruling prioritising student welfare and freedom of expression, India's apex court has ordered the closure of all criminal cases against youth who participated in protests regarding the Chief Justice of India. The decision underscores the judiciary's recognition of legitimate public dissent on matters of national importance.

The Supreme Court exercised its constitutional powers under Article 142, which permits the court to pass orders in the interest of justice, to quash the first information reports. This move comes amid widespread student agitation following the alleged paper leak in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for undergraduate medical programmes, which sparked considerable public concern about examination integrity and administrative accountability.

The government has been mandated to compensate the families of students who tragically ended their lives amid the examination scandal and its aftermath. The directive reflects judicial acknowledgement of the systemic failures that led to the crisis and the suffering endured by affected families.

The ruling reinforces the constitutional right of citizens to peaceful protest while holding authorities accountable for lapses in conducting competitive examinations. It signals the judiciary's commitment to balancing law and order with legitimate grievances raised by students and citizens across the country.