The Crossbill News Desk
The Maharashtra government has moved to fulfil its commitment to protesters who participated in the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) agitation, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (July 28) directing the Home Department to initiate the process of withdrawing cases filed against participants in the state.
Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, instructed officials to begin the procedure for cases registered against protesters during demonstrations over the alleged NEET paper leak and the demand for the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, The Indian Express reported citing sources.
The move follows one of the key assurances made to the CJP after the organisation called off its nationwide agitation. In the days since the protests ended, CJP leaders had repeatedly urged governments to act on their commitment to withdraw cases against those who participated in peaceful demonstrations.
They had also warned that the protests could resume if participants continued to face police action.
However, government officials clarified that Tuesday’s directive does not mean that the FIRs have been immediately cancelled.
“Once an FIR is registered, the government cannot suo motu withdraw the case. It can only initiate the process for withdrawal, which has to be completed in accordance with the legal procedure and requires scrutiny as well as court approval,” a senior official told IE.
Maharashtra is the latest state to begin acting on the assurance given to protesters. The governments of Assam and Bihar had earlier announced steps to withdraw cases registered against participants in the CJP-led protests.
The Maharashtra government's decision comes amid concerns raised by student groups and legal representatives after several protesters in Mumbai reportedly continued to receive police notices even after assurances that cases related to the agitation would be withdrawn.
The latest move is expected to ease tensions between the state authorities and protesters, although the formal withdrawal of the cases will depend on the completion of the prescribed legal process and approval by the courts.
Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, instructed officials to begin the procedure for cases registered against protesters during demonstrations over the alleged NEET paper leak and the demand for the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, The Indian Express reported citing sources.
The move follows one of the key assurances made to the CJP after the organisation called off its nationwide agitation. In the days since the protests ended, CJP leaders had repeatedly urged governments to act on their commitment to withdraw cases against those who participated in peaceful demonstrations.
They had also warned that the protests could resume if participants continued to face police action.
However, government officials clarified that Tuesday’s directive does not mean that the FIRs have been immediately cancelled.
“Once an FIR is registered, the government cannot suo motu withdraw the case. It can only initiate the process for withdrawal, which has to be completed in accordance with the legal procedure and requires scrutiny as well as court approval,” a senior official told IE.
Maharashtra is the latest state to begin acting on the assurance given to protesters. The governments of Assam and Bihar had earlier announced steps to withdraw cases registered against participants in the CJP-led protests.
The Maharashtra government's decision comes amid concerns raised by student groups and legal representatives after several protesters in Mumbai reportedly continued to receive police notices even after assurances that cases related to the agitation would be withdrawn.
The latest move is expected to ease tensions between the state authorities and protesters, although the formal withdrawal of the cases will depend on the completion of the prescribed legal process and approval by the courts.
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