Student Issued Notice Over Jantar Mantar Protests Despite Supreme Court Order; CJI Calls For District Magistrate's Explanation

The Supreme Court today expressed deep concerns over notice being issued to a second year student by Executive Magistrate, Greater Noida over the Jantar Mantar protests despite the court having ordered that all FIRs against students be quashed.

A CJI Surya Kant led bench heard a mentioning made by the students' counsel who stated, " a second year student against whom notice has been issued by Executive Magistrate, Greater Noida over the Jantar Mantar protests. It was later withdrawn..This is an experiment being played with the students of India, and therefore, it would have an all-India implication.".

A miffed CJI questioned how such a thing could be done and said, "Our order was very clear that no penal action against students. The language was very clear.."

Justice Bagchi, also on the bench asked, "As of now, the notice has been withdrawn, that is what you say. Is there any communication to you that the notice has been withdrawn?"

To this the counsel said, "No. The press report says that it has been withdrawn. Your judgment was of September 1..they have committed contempt.."

Accordingly, the bench has sought the District Magistrates' response on the issue.

On September 1, 2026 in light of the assurance given by the government, the Supreme Court had quashed FIRs registered against those involved in the NEET Paper Leak Protests. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had informed the CJI Surya Kant led bench that the government was committed to all the three assurances made by the Centre after a meeting was held between the government and the leaders of the protest. Notably the three assurances were, firstly, that Centre will not pursue the FIRs filed against the protestors from July 20-25, secondly, no future FIRs will be filed and lastly, the government would pay compensation to those unfortunate students who committed suicide.

For Delhi Police, the court was further informed that regarding persons with criminal antecedents, who may have caused destruction of public property, 2873 individuals having serious criminal antecedents as per NCRB database were prima facie reported to be at protest site. The SG added that fresh FIRs would be registered against these individuals, not for being part of protest but other offences.

Earlier, the Centre had moved an application before the Supreme Court of India to quash the FIRs registered against student protesters involved in the NEET Paper leak protests invoking its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.

Previously, the Supreme Court had directed that the State government are at liberty to withdraw FIRs registered against the protestors involved in the recent protests that happened in various parts of the country over the NEET paper leak. As a CJI Surya Kant led bench clarified that those FIRs registered against persons who are already accused of grave and heinous offences may not be withdrawn, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that 2700 such FIRs shall not be withdrawn.

Court had directed that no coercive action would taken against the protestors involved in the recent protests. A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana had also ordered immediate release of minors detained by police across different States except those with criminal background. On August 20, the

Supreme Court has also constituted a High-Powered Enquiry Committee(HPEC) headed by Justice (Retd.) R. Subhash Reddy, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India for an independent and impartial investigation into the alleged acts of violence during the NEET Paper Leak protests. The top court has ordered that the enquiry undertaken by the HPEC shall not be a one-time exercise rather, the Committee shall undertake a continuous and periodic assessment of the issues enumerated hereinabove, and shall submit its interim findings periodically so as to enable this Court to take appropriate measures and issue such directions as may be warranted.

Mentioning Date: September 9, 2026

Bench: CJI Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohana