The Supreme Court on Monday directed authorities not to take any harsh action against youth who participated in protests over the alleged NEET question paper leak in Delhi and other parts of the country.
Hearing petitions that alleged excessive police deployment and baton-charge on students during demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere, the bench also considered a plea from families of police personnel who were injured during the protests.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant and Justices Jaymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana ordered that anyone detained without a criminal background should be released immediately. It further said those below 18 years of age who were arrested must be released at once, and that details of the youth should not be made public.
The court also directed that all related CCTV footage and video recordings be preserved securely. Notices were issued to the Union government and to state governments including Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam, where protests were reported.
