New Delhi, Sep 1: In a major relief to student protesters, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the quashing of FIRs registered in connection with student protests held between July 20 and July 25 across the country, with an exception for protesters having serious criminal antecedents.

The court said the decision was being taken in view of the future of students who had participated in the protests bona fide.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana directed that FIRs registered in any state or Union Territory in connection with the protests during the specified period shall not be pursued or investigated and will be treated as closed for all purposes.

The court also quashed the FIRs specifically identified in applications filed by the Centre through the Delhi Police, as well as by Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Assam.

The court further directed that no state or Union Territory shall register any fresh FIR in connection with incidents arising from the student protests between July 20 and July 25.

However, the Delhi Police has been permitted to proceed with one FIR concerning 2,873 individuals who were present at the Jantar Mantar protests, citing their serious criminal antecedents.

The bench invoked its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution while passing the order.

During the hearing, the bench also recorded the Solicitor General's statement that a policy for providing compensation to the families of students who died by suicide following the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 would be formulated within three months.

The court also took note of a statement by Cockroach Janata Party Co-Convener Saurav Das that the organisation had withdrawn its call for a protest scheduled for September 5.

Speaking before the Supreme Court, Das said the decision to withdraw the protest followed the Centre's positive response and the court's order.