Centre and Delhi Police are at 'liberty' to register "fresh FIRs against 2,873 persons" ::::: Supreme Court uses special powers to cancel FIRs against protesters,

The Supreme Court said the Centre and Delhi Police would remain at liberty to register fresh FIRs against 2,873 persons, 

.... as described in their application, without prejudice to the affected parties' right to seek legal remedy.  

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept 1,  invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to cancel all FIRs listed before it against youth protesters over incidents between July 20 and 25 during the Cockroach Janta Party-led paper leak protests across the country.

The court said any other FIRs related to the same incidents in any state or Union Territory should not be pursued or investigated and would be treated as closed for all purposes.  

Allowing applications filed by five states seeking the cancelling of the FIRs, the Supreme Court said no state or Union Territory should register any fresh FIR for incidents between July 20 and 26.  

The Centre, earlier, placed before the court a specific application by the Delhi Police seeking permission to register a fresh FIR against 2,873 people who were alleged to have serious criminal records, but only if an investigation established their involvement in offences involving bodily harm or destruction of property during the protests. 

The Supreme Court said its decision to invoke Article 142 was based on commitments made before it by the Centre and some states, along with a statement read by the CJP co-convenor.

It also took into account the future prospects of young protesters who had "bona fide" come to participate in peaceful protests. On compensation, the court directed that modalities for a pan-India mechanism be worked out in consultation with states and Union Territories, with the framework adopted as a regular mechanism for compensatory measures.  

The Centre was also directed to provide compensation within three months in cases of suicides due to NEET 2026.  

CENTRE REITERATES THREE ASSURANCES

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that the Centre had given three assurances at a meeting with protest leaders.

The first was that FIRs against protesters for incidents between July 20 and 25 would not be pursued. 

The second was that no fresh FIRs would be filed in connection with those incidents. The third related to compensation for the families of those who died by suicide. 

“The government stands by its commitments,” the Solicitor General told the court.

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