New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday clarified that the Delhi government and state governments are free to close or withdraw FIRs registered against protesters who participated in the recent student protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and other parts of the country.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana said its July 28 order permitting prosecution of protesters with a “criminal background” was intended to apply only to those accused of serious and heinous offences.
The Bench clarified that the expression “criminal background” should be interpreted only in that limited context and should not be applied broadly to all protesters facing criminal cases.
The Supreme Court made the observation while hearing a batch of petitions relating to the alleged use of police force against students protesting over the examination paper leak issue on July 20.
