The Gujarat government has directed the state police to drop all criminal cases registered against students and others who participated in protests over the alleged NEET-UG examination paper leak, acting on a Supreme Court interim order that barred coercive action against student demonstrators. The directive, issued from Gandhinagar, marks a significant legal reversal for protesters who faced police action during the statewide agitation.

The Government Directive

In a letter dated 31 July to Director General of Police (DGP) Gyanendra Singh Malik, the state Home Department instructed police to refrain from taking any adverse legal or penal action against students, youth, or any other individuals who joined the demonstrations across Gujarat. The department further directed that where First Information Reports (FIRs) or criminal cases had already been registered, the process for withdrawing them must be completed immediately. The letter did not specify the total number of FIRs to be withdrawn.

What the Supreme Court Ordered

The directive traces directly to the Supreme Court's 28 July interim order, which prohibited coercive action against student protesters without criminal antecedents and mandated the release of minors detained during the agitation. On the following Monday, the court clarified that 'criminal antecedents' applied only to those involved in grave and heinous offences — effectively freeing state governments to close or withdraw FIRs against the remaining protesters under the law. The court has also ordered the preservation of CCTV footage, drone recordings, body-camera videos, and other electronic evidence as broader proceedings into alleged police excesses during the demonstrations continue.

The Protests and Their Demands

Demonstrations were held in Ahmedabad and several other Gujarat cities in solidarity with the nationwide agitation centred at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Protesters demanded accountability over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination and backed calls for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The nationwide movement began at Jantar Mantar on 20 June and concluded on 25 July after Pradhan resigned and the government accepted key demands from protest organisers, including commitments on examination reforms.

Other States Follow Suit

Gujarat's decision is part of a broader pattern of state-level rollbacks following the Supreme Court's direction. Assam announced it would withdraw all cases linked to the protests, release those arrested, and refrain from further adverse legal action against peaceful demonstrators. Bihar also initiated the process of dropping related cases after discussions between government representatives and protest leaders. The coordinated withdrawal across multiple states underscores the weight of the Supreme Court's intervention in shaping the government's response to the NEET-UG controversy.

What Happens Next

With FIR withdrawals now underway in Gujarat, legal proceedings against the affected students are expected to be formally closed in the coming weeks. The Supreme Court's ongoing scrutiny of alleged police conduct during the protests means the broader accountability question remains open. Examination reform commitments made by the Centre during the agitation will face close monitoring from student groups and opposition parties alike.