During a hearing on 18 August 2026, the Supreme Court said it would consider invoking Article 142 to cancel FIRs filed against students who took part in protests demanding accountability after the NEET‑UG paper leak. The case concerns nationwide demonstrations that erupted after the exam was postponed, which led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Chief Justice Surya Kant, who heads a three‑judge bench, clarified that the court would only quash cases that do not contain “serious criminal antecedents”. Delhi Police has not yet disclosed the FIR numbers, prompting the bench to request clarification from the investigators.
The bench also said it would set up a high‑powered committee to look into all issues raised by the protests, including alleged misuse of force by police and reports of officers in plain clothes participating in the crackdown.
