The West Bengal Government on Tuesday, 28 July issued a formal statement clarifying that no coercive action — including arrests — will be taken against students who participated in the joint rally organised by the students' and youth wings of various Left parties in Kolkata on 24 July. The assurance comes amid a broader national movement against the alleged NEET-UG examination paper leak.

What the Government Said

The statement, issued by the State Home and Hill Affairs Department, noted that the decision was taken after carefully weighing all aspects of the case registered in connection with alleged attacks on police personnel and media persons during the rally. Authorities also cited the order passed by the Supreme Court in the Shailendra Mani Tripathi vs Union of India and Others case, which relates to nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak.

Notably, the protection will not extend to individuals with criminal antecedents, in line with the apex court's directive. The government's statement drew a clear line between bona fide student protesters and those with prior criminal records.

Court Grants Bail to 16 Accused

The government's announcement came hours after the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Kolkata granted bail to 16 people arrested in connection with the unrest surrounding the protest rally. Defence counsel cited the Supreme Court's order, which prohibits disproportionate action against those involved in the NEET movement, to secure the relief.

Government lawyers initially opposed the bail plea and sought judicial custody. The magistrate, however, ordered custody only till 30 July and granted bail to all 16 accused.

Criminal Records and the Court's Scrutiny

During the afternoon hearing, the magistrate specifically questioned how many of the accused had prior criminal histories — a key threshold set by the Supreme Court for stricter action. The investigating officer stated that five of the 16 accused had criminal records. Defence lawyers countered by asking whether those five had actually been convicted in their previous cases. With no definitive answer forthcoming, the magistrate extended bail to all 16.

Centre's Withdrawal of Cases: A Contested Claim

Defence lawyers also raised the issue of the Union Home Ministry reportedly agreeing in court to withdraw cases related to the NEET movement across India, including in Delhi. They cited the examples of Bihar and Assam, though the magistrate noted there were no clear guidelines from those states. The matter was allowed to be mentioned again on Wednesday, leaving the question of case withdrawals unresolved for now.

What Comes Next

With the Supreme Court's order providing a legal shield to student protesters and the Bengal government's assurance now on record, the immediate threat of mass arrests appears to have receded. However, the five accused with alleged criminal backgrounds remain in a legal grey zone, and the broader question of whether the Centre will formally withdraw NEET-related cases nationwide is yet to be settled. The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.