28 July,2026 01:25 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The apex court directed all states where protests were held to preserve electronic and digital evidence related to the demonstrations. Pic/AFP
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the release of student protesters who are below 18 years of age and have no criminal record, while restraining authorities from taking coercive action against eligible protesters in connection with the recent nationwide agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, issued a series of interim directions while hearing petitions alleging police excesses during the demonstrations.
The apex court directed all states where protests were held to preserve electronic and digital evidence related to the demonstrations.
The order covers CCTV footage, drone recordings, body-camera footage, wireless communication records, Police Control Room (PCR) logs and other digital material linked to the protests.
The bench also directed that any digital data collected on protesters be preserved but not disclosed publicly.
The court restrained authorities from taking coercive action against protesting students during the pendency of the proceedings.
However, the protection will not apply to individuals with criminal antecedents.
The bench also allowed the Delhi government to continue its investigation into the FIRs already registered, while directing that no coercive action be taken against eligible student protesters during the proceedings.
The Supreme Court sought responses from the chief secretaries of Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on the allegations raised in the petitions.
"The allegations prima facie warrant consideration of a fair and independent probe, which must also address the concerns of families of over 200 injured police personnel," the Chief Justice observed.
At the outset of the hearing, the bench questioned why an independent investigation should not be ordered into allegations of police excesses during the protests.
"Whosoever committed excesses, took law into their hands should be taken to task," the bench said.
The court directed the Centre and the concerned state governments to place their responses on record before it decides whether to constitute an independent committee or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure a fair, transparent and comprehensive investigation into all incidents of violence linked to the protests.
(With inputs from PTI)
