The Delhi government has ordered the closure of 13 legal cases filed against student protestors at Jantar Mantar. The directive excludes individuals with prior criminal records, following a trend of similar case withdrawals in Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal.
The Delhi government has issued an official order to close all legal proceedings related to the recent student protest held at Jantar Mantar. As of July 29, the Delhi Police had registered 13 cases linked to these demonstrations. According to the administrative directive issued on July 30, these matters are now considered closed, and no further legal action will be pursued against those involved.
The government has also committed to reviewing recent arrests and facilitating the release of individuals currently in detention. This policy, however, includes a strict caveat: the withdrawal of cases does not apply to individuals who possess prior criminal records. This verification process aligns with standing Supreme Court directives regarding the handling of protest-related legal matters.
This move by the Delhi administration reflects a broader national trend where several state governments have recently moved to withdraw cases against students involved in various agitations. Similar actions have been reported in other parts of the country, including Bihar, where the government decided against pursuing legal action related to protests over the NEET examination paper leak. Additionally, the Assam government has withdrawn five cases, and authorities in West Bengal have dropped a suo motu FIR that was filed in connection with student rallies.
These developments follow pressure from various political and student groups, including the Co-ordination Committee of Political Parties, which had publicly requested that the government refrain from punitive actions against peaceful protestors. While these cases are being closed, the primary monitorable for the public remains the administrative process of verification for those with criminal backgrounds and the final clearing of the formal police records regarding these 13 cases.