The Government of India has asked the Supreme Court to quash first information reports (FIRs) filed against students involved in Jantar Mantar protests [1].
This legal move comes as the government seeks to remove judicial hurdles for students ahead of further planned demonstrations. The outcome could signal a shift in how the state handles charges related to peaceful assembly and student activism.
The central government filed the plea on Monday, Sept. 2, 2026 [1, 2]. The petition urges the court to invoke its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to nullify the cases [1, 4]. These FIRs were registered against participants of the sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi [1, 4].
The Centre argued that the existing cases impede the right to peaceful protest [1, 3]. By seeking the intervention of the highest court, the government suggests that the withdrawal of these charges is necessary to maintain public order, and protect civil liberties.
Timing is a critical factor in the filing. The government moved for the quashing of the FIRs before a planned protest scheduled for Sept. 5, 2026 [1]. The move aligns with calls from political figures to clear the legal records of the students.
"The central government must approach the Supreme Court to get all FIRs registered during the students' protests quashed," Aaditya Thackeray said [3].
The government's position is that states possess the authority to withdraw FIRs, but the use of Article 142 would provide a comprehensive resolution across different jurisdictions [1, 3]. This would ensure that students are not facing fragmented legal battles across multiple states for the same protest action.
“The government seeks to invoke special constitutional powers to nullify charges.”
The invocation of Article 142 is a significant legal step, as it allows the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary for doing complete justice. By requesting this, the Indian government is effectively bypassing standard state-level legal procedures to provide immediate relief to protesters. This suggests a strategic attempt to defuse tensions before the Sept. 5 demonstration and acknowledges that the criminalization of the Jantar Mantar sit-in may be counterproductive to maintaining social stability.
