India’s top court drops criminal cases against protesters

India's Supreme Court called off criminal investigations against most protesters involved in July demonstrations over a leaked medical exam paper, using its constitutional powers to grant relief to participants in protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party movement. The July 20 demonstrations turned violent when police clashed with tens of thousands marching toward Parliament in New Delhi, with unrest also breaking out in Bihar and West Bengal.

Chief Justice Surya Kant said the sides could resolve issues 'one by one' given good faith, and the court also ordered compensation within three months for families of students who reportedly died by suicide over the exam leak. However, investigations continue against 2,873 protesters with prior criminal records, according to the Press Trust of India.

Following the ruling, the CJP withdrew plans for a Saturday protest in Delhi. The movement, sparked by the exam leak, had widened into demonstrations over unemployment and what critics call Prime Minister Narendra Modi's increasingly authoritarian rule, marking the biggest challenge to his government since his 2024 re-election.

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