In a significant interim order, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed authorities across several states to release student protesters detained in connection with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led demonstrations over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, provided they have no previous criminal record.
The Court also instructed police not to take any coercive action against such protesters at this stage. While law enforcement agencies remain free to register First Information Reports (FIRs), the bench made it clear that arrests or other coercive measures should not be pursued until further orders.
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The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana, while hearing multiple petitions that questioned the police response to the nationwide protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The petitions alleged that students demonstrating peacefully were subjected to excessive force, including baton charges, tear gas, pellet guns, and electric weapons, during protests that began at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar before spreading to Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala.
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During the hearing, the Court observed that the allegations presented before it appear serious enough to justify an independent and impartial investigation.
To safeguard potential evidence, the bench ordered authorities to preserve all material related to the protests, including CCTV footage, drone recordings, body-camera videos, police wireless communications, and Police Control Room (PCR) records. It also directed police to ensure that digital information relating to protesters is securely preserved and not disclosed publicly.
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Emphasising the right to privacy, the Court further instructed that no personal information or identifying details of the protesters should be released into the public domain.
However, the Court clarified that its protection does not automatically extend to individuals with prior criminal records, leaving the question of any action against them open for future consideration.
The Supreme Court has asked the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs) of the concerned states to appear at the next hearing, which has been scheduled for August 3. 
