SC Clarifies Relief for Paper-Leak Protesters
The Supreme Court of India has made it clear that the government of Delhi and other states can take steps to close or withdraw cases filed against students who took part in protests over the examination paper leaks. This will not apply to the protesters who are accused of very serious crimes. The Supreme Court said this during a hearing in front of a group of three judges led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
The whole thing started with student protests that were held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on July 20 and at places all over the country. These protests were about the leak of the examination paper and the demand for more accountability in the way exams are conducted. Some people even filed petitions in the Supreme Court saying that the police used too much force against the students. At the time, the families of police officers who were hurt during the protests wanted action to be taken against the protesters who they said had attacked the police.
The Supreme Court also made it clear what it meant by its order on July 28 about protesters who have a “record”. The Court said that this rule is for people who are accused of very serious crimes, and it does not mean that all cases against protesters cannot be withdrawn.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing the government, said that the government is committed to helping the students who’re eligible for relief. He also explained that the police cannot just withdraw a case that has been filed. Instead, they have to file a report saying that they do not want to pursue the case, or they have to ask the court for permission to stop the prosecution, or they have to go to court to get the case dismissed.
The Supreme Court is also looking into the allegations that the police used too much force during the protests. The judges are thinking about setting up a team of police officers to investigate these allegations, or they might appoint a committee led by a retired judge to do the same. They had already given directions to save all the evidence, like CCTV footage and videos from drones and body cameras.
The time the Supreme Court will hear this case is on August 18. This clarification is very important for the students and their families because it separates the cases that are related to the protests from the cases that involve serious crimes. At the time, it is still looking into whether the police action during the protests was justified or not. The Supreme Court is making it clear that the government of Delhi and other states can take steps to close or withdraw cases that were filed against students who took part in the protests about the examination paper leaks, which is a big relief for the students who participated in the protests.
