In a significant move, India’s Supreme Court has intervened to drop criminal charges against the majority of demonstrators who participated in the July protests sparked by a major medical exam paper leak. The demonstrations, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), had intensified after reaching New Delhi, leading to widespread clashes and subsequent rioting charges filed by police against hundreds of students. By invoking its special constitutional powers, the court aims to de-escalate the situation, with Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasizing that mutual good faith is essential for resolving these ongoing grievances.

Beyond dismissing the charges, the court has ordered the government to provide financial compensation within three months to the families of students who tragically died by suicide following the scandal. In response to this judicial intervention, the CJP has officially called off its planned Saturday march in the capital. While the relief is broad, authorities will continue to pursue legal action against roughly 2,873 individuals who already hold prior criminal records. These protests, which began as a reaction to the exam leak, evolved into a broader critique of the current administration’s handling of unemployment and youth opportunities, marking a pivotal moment of unrest in Prime Minister Modi’s third term.