Supreme Court Orders Release of Minor Students Amid Protests

The Supreme Court of India restrained multiple states from taking coercive action against students protesting paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET examinations. Chief Justice Surya Kant ordered the immediate release of detained students under 18 who have no criminal records, potentially upon the execution of a simple bond. The court issued notices to Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala, mandating the preservation of digital evidence, including CCTV and drone footage, to facilitate an independent probe into allegations of police brutality involving pellet guns and electric batons.

In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the Home Department to withdraw cases against students who protested for the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, affecting approximately 35 FIRs. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a chargesheet against 13 individuals, including paper experts and coaching center associates, regarding the NEET UG 2026 paper leak.

Political tensions escalated as Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray pledged free legal assistance to students facing police action. Thackeray accused the BJP-led governments of targeting youth and using excessive force, including AK-47s, while specifically questioning the Maharashtra government regarding potential scams in the MH-CET examination process.