After Supreme Court refuses to stay CJP’s march, Delhi Police demands quashing of FIR against NEET-UG protesters, students
Within hours of the Supreme Court on Monday (August 31, 2026) refusing to stay a protest march called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in central Delhi ahead of the BRICS summit, the Delhi Police filed an urgent plea to quash the First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against students and youth who participated in the NEET-UG protests.
Days ahead of the September 12-13 BRICS summit, the CJP decided to hit the streets again on September 5 citing the Centre’s failure to honor its assurances, including immediate withdrawal of the FIR against the student protesters.
Earlier in the day, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant found no “compelling circumstance” to interfere with the CJP’s plans for a protest march.
In the afternoon, as the bench prepared to rise, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta orally referred to a plea filed by the Delhi Police urging the apex court to invoke Article 142 of the Constitution to quash the FIR. Mr. Mehta himself pushed for a September 1 hearing.
Delhi Police said it “no longer wishes” to pursue FIRs registered at various police stations in central Delhi, from Barakhamba Road to Parliament Street to Connaught Place, against students and protesters after the July 20 crackdown. These FIRs leveled charges of rioting, attempt to murder and damage to public property against the protesters.
The police expressed their willingness to close any additional FIRs that were not mentioned in the application. They sought the court’s permission to file a “fresh, specific” FIR against only 2,873 individuals with criminal antecedents who were allegedly present at the NEET-UG protest site.
Chief Justice Kant agreed to include the application on September 1, noting, “If the parties reconcile, we have no difficulty.”
The CJI Bench’s refusal to intervene earlier in the day was in separate pleas filed by former Delhi Police officer Rajender Singh and another challenging the notification of the September 5 protest march.
Advocate Syed Rizwan Ahmed, who appeared for the petitioners, said that to the best of his knowledge, the CJP had not asked either the police or the courts; the decision to march was announced on social media. The national interest would be better served if the CJP postponed the march by another 10 days, to September 15, he said.
“International dignitaries will arrive in the capital on September 12 and 13. What happened at the AI summit recently? People stripped and danced… Can’t the CJP wait 10 days, till September 15, to allow the BRICS summit to take place without a hitch?” said Mr. Ahmed.
“There are no compelling circumstances to assume that anything wrong has happened. Everyone will behave peacefully, lawfully and sensibly… It is the responsibility of the Union Government and the Delhi Police to maintain law and order. They will say what is illegal or permissible,” the CJI replied.
The court expected both parties, those who want to march and the police, to respect and honor the laws of the land, the chief justice said.
“Everyone should obey laws, regulations and respect the rights of others,” Chief Justice Kant noted orally.
The court ordered Mr. Ahmed to provide the Attorney General’s office with a copy of his application. The bench said it will mark the application with the main batch of NEET-UG protest petitions to be listed on September 10. It gave the council freedom to mention itself in case of any urgency in the interim period.
Mr. Ahmed strongly urged the court to allow him to file the application on September 3, before the CJP’s proposed march. He repeatedly questioned whether “the capital can be subjected to such anarchy at the doorstep of the BRICS summit. They (the protesters) have tasted blood… History may not forgive leniency in this situation”.
However, the Chief Justice only asked Mr. Ahmed to convince the Delhi government and police. “It is their duty to maintain law and order,” Chief Justice Kant said.
Published – 31 Aug 2026 14:01 IST