Last Updated on July 29, 2026 12:12 am by INDIAN AWAAZ
State announces protection for NEET protest participants without criminal antecedents; 16 arrested in one registered case
Our Correspondent / Kolkata
The West Bengal government on Tuesday announced that no coercive action will be taken against students who participated in protests over the alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) examination, provided they do not have any criminal antecedents. The decision comes in compliance with an interim order passed by the Supreme Court earlier in the day.
In a press release issued by the Home & Hill Affairs Department, the state government said that as of 6:00 p.m. on July 26, one case had been registered in West Bengal based on a police complaint in connection with the NEET protest demonstrations. Sixteen persons have been arrested in relation to the case.
After reviewing the matter and taking into account the Supreme Court’s interim order in Shailendra Mani Tripathi vs Union of India & Others, the state government announced two immediate measures.
First, it said no coercive measures would be taken against students who participated in the protests over the alleged NEET (UG) examination irregularities. However, the protection will not apply to persons with criminal antecedents, in line with the Supreme Court’s directions.
The press release was issued by the Office of the Senior Special Secretary, Home & Hill Affairs Department.
Background
The announcement follows the Supreme Court’s interim order on petitions related to the nationwide student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) examination. The apex court directed that no coercive action be taken against student protesters without a criminal background, ordered the release of eligible detainees, and called for a fair investigation into incidents of violence involving both protesters and police. However, it did not order the withdrawal of FIRs already registered, allowing investigations to continue.
The issue has also become a key point of contention between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has demanded the complete withdrawal of all FIRs against student protesters and warned of fresh nationwide demonstrations if its demands are not met. West Bengal’s announcement is among the first formal state responses following the Supreme Court’s interim directions.