Government Seeks to Dismiss FIRs Against Student Protesters in Supreme Court
New Delhi, September 1: The central government filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday, requesting the dismissal of FIRs against student protesters who demonstrated at Jantar Mantar and other locations across the country. The government urged the apex court to exercise its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure “complete justice.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented the case before a bench led by Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, which included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan. He requested an immediate hearing on the government’s petition.
“I would like to file an interim application, if you allow a hearing tomorrow. This relates to the protests aimed at dismissing the FIRs. We are invoking Article 142 of the Constitution,” he stated.
When the Chief Justice inquired about the matter, the Solicitor General reiterated that the application pertains to the FIRs registered in connection with student protests nationwide. The Supreme Court responded, “If the parties are reaching a settlement, we have no issue.”
The central government’s second-highest legal officer, SG Mehta, asked, “Can the hearing take place tomorrow, my Lord?” The Chief Justice’s bench agreed to hear the matter on Tuesday.
This development comes ahead of a proposed protest march organized by the Cockroach People’s Party (CPP) from India Gate to the New Delhi police headquarters on September 5.
The CPP announced the march on August 24, alleging that the central government failed to fulfill promises made to the youth after withdrawing protests nationwide on July 25.
The party stated that the march on September 5 would be led by families of deceased students related to the NEET exam and victims of police brutality, with participation from students and young citizens across the country.
The CPP also referenced the Supreme Court proceedings from August 18, claiming that the court had requested details of the FIRs registered nationwide to consider their dismissal collectively.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court declined to issue any interim orders against the proposed protest march on September 5. The court noted that there was no substantial reason to believe that the demonstration would pose a law and order issue at this stage.
The bench led by the Chief Justice issued a notice on a petition challenging the proposed march but refused to hear it before September 5.
The Supreme Court indicated that, at least at this stage, it would assume that all participants would act responsibly and engage peacefully and within the law. It also emphasized that maintaining law and order is ultimately the responsibility of police officials.
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