Maharashtra Govt Moves to Drop Cases Against NEET Protest Participants
Maharashtra to withdraw FIRs against NEET and CJP protesters.
The Maharashtra government has initiated the process of withdrawing First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against individuals who participated in the NEET and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday directed the state Home Department to begin the formal procedure for withdrawing the cases, signalling a shift in the state's approach towards those involved in the demonstrations.
According to the Chief Minister's directive, the Home Department will now undertake the necessary legal and administrative steps required to withdraw the FIRs. The decision comes amid ongoing efforts to implement assurances given following discussions between the Centre and CJP representatives regarding the treatment of peaceful protesters.
The development follows similar announcements by the governments of Bihar and Assam, both of which recently stated that they would also move to withdraw cases registered against participants in the protests. Those decisions came after the CJP reminded the Centre of its commitment that no retaliatory or legal action would be taken against demonstrators who had participated peacefully in the movement.
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The CJP had earlier warned that it would resume protests if governments failed to honour the assurances made during negotiations. Among the commitments cited by the organisation was a promise that peaceful protesters would not face punitive legal action following the conclusion of the nationwide agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak.
The protests, which began over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, evolved into a large-scale movement demanding accountability and reforms in the examination system. Demonstrations were held in several states, with some locations witnessing clashes between protesters and police, resulting in multiple FIRs being registered against participants.
With Maharashtra now joining Bihar and Assam in initiating the withdrawal of protest-related cases, the latest move reflects the implementation of commitments made after talks between the Centre and protest representatives. The legal process for withdrawing the FIRs will now proceed in accordance with applicable laws and court procedures before the cases are formally closed.
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