The Delhi government on Thursday announced that it will not pursue any further adverse legal action against individuals who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar, marking another significant step towards implementing assurances made after the anti-NEET agitation concluded. However, the government clarified that the relief will not extend to persons with criminal antecedents, citing compliance with a Supreme Court directive.
In an order issued by the Home Department of the Government of the National Capital Territory (GNCT) of Delhi, the administration stated that participants in the protest would not face any future legal proceedings related to the agitation. The decision has been approved by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
The official order stated that the Delhi government does not propose to take any further adverse action against individuals involved in the protests and that the matter will be treated as closed without any future proceedings on this account.
The government also announced that individuals who were detained or arrested during the course of the protests would be released after an administrative review. The review process, according to the order, will be completed expeditiously to ensure the prompt release of eligible persons.
At the same time, the Home Department made it clear that the decision would not benefit those with criminal antecedents. It said the exclusion is in accordance with a Supreme Court order, under which such persons cannot be granted blanket protection from legal action.
The announcement comes days after the Cockroach Janta Party called off its nationwide agitation following the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) examination. As part of the understanding reached between the government and the protest leaders, assurances had reportedly been given that criminal cases registered against peaceful protesters would be withdrawn.
Several BJP-ruled states, including Bihar and Assam, had already announced similar measures after the CJP ended its agitation. The Delhi government's decision aligns with those announcements and is expected to provide relief to many protesters who were detained during demonstrations in the national capital.
Despite the latest order, the CJP has maintained that the promises made by the government have not yet been fully implemented. The organisation has repeatedly claimed that cases against many protesters remain pending and has warned that it could revive its agitation if the commitments are not honoured.
The CJP leadership has also expressed dissatisfaction over the appointment of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi as the interim Education Minister following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke launched a sharp attack on the government, alleging that the appointment reflected the Centre's misplaced priorities. Referring to remarks allegedly made by Joshi, Dipke criticised the leadership and questioned the message being conveyed through the appointment.
He further accused the government of being lenient towards individuals convicted in serious criminal cases and alleged that its actions reflected support for such elements. Dipke reiterated that the CJP would closely monitor the implementation of the government's commitments, including the withdrawal of cases against protesters, and would not hesitate to resume nationwide demonstrations if those assurances were not fulfilled.
The Delhi government's order is expected to ease legal uncertainty for many participants in the anti-NEET protests. However, the continuing disagreement between the administration and the CJP over the actual withdrawal of cases indicates that the issue remains politically sensitive, with the possibility of renewed confrontation if the implementation falls short of the assurances given.
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