Youth protests: Supreme Court clarifies states can withdraw FIRs against demonstrators

The Supreme Court on Monday clarified that states can withdraw first information reports filed against youth protesters wherever permissible, in accordance with the law, Live Law reported.

The clarification came in response to concerns raised by petitioners that the court’s July 28 order, which allowed states to continue investigations into the FIRs, could hinder the withdrawal of cases. They argued that closing the FIRs was part of the Union government’s promise to leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign to end the protests.

It also came after the Union government submitted that it was “serious” about its assurance that amnesty would be granted to students who had participated in demonstrations, The Hindu reported.