The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed all FIRs registered against students who took part in the agitations led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in July, considering the future prospects of young protesters who had "bona fide" come to participate in peaceful demonstration.
The apex court, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymala Bagchi and V. Mohana, issued the order, invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. The article empowers the court to pass orders necessary to ensure complete justice in any matter before it.
The order said protection will be ensured against "any harm to students or youths who participated in these protests".
This comes hours as the CJP called off its September 5 march to Delhi Police headquarters after the Centre assured the protesters that it would honour its commitments to withdraw criminal cases and compensation to families of students who died by suicide. The BJP governments in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and Assam have followed Centre's suit.
However, the top court allowed Delhi Police to register a fresh FIR against 2,873 individuals with "serious and grave criminal antecedents" after Soicitor General Tushar Mehta sought liberty to proceed against them.
Responding to the Supreme Court order, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said that if the alleged criminals were indeed present at the protest site and had committed serious crimes such as rape, murder or other heinous acts, they should be prosecuted, investigated and imprisoned.
