Delhi Drops NEET-UG Protest Cases, With Riders

Synopsis

The Delhi government has asked the courts to drop 13 FIRs filed against protesters of the NEET-UG, who do not have any criminal records. The transfer comes amid a Supreme Court ruling on July 28 that prohibits the use of force against peaceful protesters. Only after magistrate approval of withdrawal applications filed by the Delhi Police, will cases be formally closed.

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Government is stepping in to end the proceedings on the protest-related cases

The Delhi government has kicked off the legal proceedings against hundreds of students who participated in protests against the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam, providing them "exculpatory relief" (or "free from blame or guilt").

According to an order issued by the Home Department signed by Principal Secretary (Home) Santosh D. Vaidya, a total of 13 cases have been registered by the Delhi Police with regard to the alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) examination as of 6 pm on July 29, 2026. Police authorities will not take any adverse legal action against any person who has participated in these protests, the order adds.

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The Supreme Court's Role

The decision was not taken out of the blue. It comes on the heels of a Supreme Court order issued on July 28 by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, which said that if a child below 18 years of age was an accused or a case was against him for protesting in the days of the police violence, he should be released as long as he did not have any criminal history.

Notably, the top court allowed investigations in the FIRs to proceed, and directed against the student protesters without criminal records taking “coercive steps”.

A Qualified Relief

The Delhi government has kept itself very sensitive on the issue. In keeping with the Supreme Court's recent instructions, the order stipulates that only the protesters with no criminal records were eligible to avail the benefit. Even prisoners already in custody won't necessarily be released, though — release will be done after administrative review.

The closure is not instantaneous on a procedural basis. Delhi Police will, now, have to approach the jurisdictional courts for permission to withdraw the cases and proceedings will remain closed only after the courts, headed by competent magistrates, grant permission to withdraw cases.

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The protests stem from the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2024 paper and other irregularities in the examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Bihar Economic Offences Unit had previously arrested over a dozen persons in the allegation of the leakage, but the case was transferred to the CBI.

The protests since then including a march towards Parliament that the police broke up have led to claims of lathi charge and use of tear gas and pellets, which have been taken on board by the Supreme Court demanding responses from the Union government and several states on the necessity of an independent investigation.

What it means moving forward

This order is not to be interpreted as a resolution of the underlying controversy for the Veritas audience who follow student-rights litigation. The bigger petitions on NEET-UG examination integrity, and police conduct during the protests continue to be before the Supreme Court.

Civil rights groups have praised the relaxation of the ban on "peaceful protesters" but pointed out that its use for "criminal antecedents" is subject to discretion, a fact that will be raised as withdrawal applications take their next court hearing in Delhi in the coming weeks.