The Supreme Court cancelled 129 FIRs linked to the Cockroach Movement protests. These cases involved students across Delhi and four states. The government said it fulfilled its promise to withdraw cases after ending the protests. On Tuesday, September 1, the Centre requested the Supreme Court to use Article 142 for cancellation. The court accepted the request and removed these cases.
Chief Justice Surya Kant announced the decision and said these FIRs now belong to history. He added that authorities cannot take further action on them. Under Article 142, the Supreme Court can pass major decisions for complete justice.
Why Were These FIRs Withdrawn?
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre before the Supreme Court. He said the government promised on July 25 to withdraw cases if protests ended. He also submitted the Delhi FIR list before the court.
Afterward, Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam and West Bengal also filed requests for case withdrawals. These states confirmed their decisions to remove the cases. Together, all four states recorded 129 FIRs related to student protests.
The Supreme Court also said other states should avoid continuing investigations if similar protest cases exist.
CJP Cancels September 5 Delhi March
Following the FIR cancellation, the Cockroach Janata Party decided to cancel its September 5 march. The organisation had planned the march in Delhi earlier.
The movement involved protests against paper leaks. These demonstrations turned violent in Delhi. Authorities registered 13 FIRs in the capital. Additionally, Bihar recorded 69 cases, Maharashtra reported 34 cases, Bengal had eight cases and Assam registered five cases.
Delhi Police To Register New FIR
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court about another FIR. This case involves 2,873 people accused of physical injuries and property damage.
Four states also submitted similar applications. The Supreme Court asked the Solicitor General to read paragraph five. It clarified that authorities would not register any fresh FIRs in the matter.
However, several lawyers opposed this step. They requested the court to place details of all 2,873 people before it.
Decision On Compensation Expected Within Three Months
The government also discussed compensation for students who lost their lives. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government remains committed to that assurance.
However, he explained that the process requires deciding proper methods. He requested three months to work on the procedure. The government said several examinations exist, and every decision creates a benchmark.
Chief Justice Surya Kant said any issue can resolve when both sides agree
