A growing network of lawyers has stepped forward to provide free legal assistance to students detained during protests linked to the CJP-led movement over the NEET paper leak. Since July 20, advocates associated with the Bombay High Court have been offering legal support to protesters detained during demonstrations across Mumbai, while legal teams have also intervened in similar cases in Delhi.
Among those involved is Supreme Court advocate Garima K, who said she acted after being contacted by a 24-year-old protester who was reportedly injured during the police crackdown at Jantar Mantar on July 20. According to her, after learning of his detention by Delhi Police, she immediately dispatched a team of junior advocates to the North District police station later that evening to provide legal representation.
Explaining her decision to intervene, Garima K said the situation could have been resolved through democratic dialogue rather than coercive measures. She stated that her legal team relied on constitutional protections, including Article 22(1), which guarantees the right to legal counsel, Article 21 concerning the protection of life and personal liberty, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) governing arrests and mandatory medical examinations.
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According to the advocate, the legal intervention helped ensure that the detained protester was released after procedural safeguards were asserted before the authorities. She maintained that legal representation was essential to uphold the rule of law and ensure that the rights of detained individuals were protected throughout the process.
The report also noted that the number of lawyers volunteering to assist students continues to increase as demonstrations over the NEET paper leak continue in different parts of the country. Volunteer advocates have been coordinating legal aid, advising detainees and their families, and appearing before police stations and courts where required.
The student protests have focused on demands for accountability and reforms in the wake of the NEET paper leak controversy. Alongside demonstrations, the emergence of volunteer legal teams has highlighted the role of legal professionals in providing assistance to detained protesters and ensuring that legal procedures are followed during ongoing law enforcement actions.
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