Bihar Dismisses dozens of FIRs Against NEET Demonstrators While Siwan Charges Persist
The Bihar government has dropped sixty-four criminal cases against students protesting the NEET-UG examination irregularities. However, twenty-one individuals in the Siwan district still face legal action for their roles in the protests.
Legal Relief for Majority of Student Protesters
In a significant shift, Bihar authorities have retracted 64 First Information Reports (FIRs) previously filed against students who led demonstrations regarding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG). The decision follows a period of intense student unrest sparked by allegations of paper leaks and marking inconsistencies. By clearing these cases, the administration effectively removes legal hurdles for dozens of candidates who argued their protests were a legitimate response to grievances over exam integrity.
The Siwan Exception
Despite the broader dismissal of charges, the legal reprieve remains incomplete. Formal cases against 21 protesters in the Siwan district have not been withdrawn. These individuals remain under judicial scrutiny while regional authorities evaluate the specific circumstances of their involvement. Local activists suggest that the nature of these remaining charges differs from the more general assembly cases dismissed elsewhere in the state.
- 64 total cases dismissed across multiple districts.
- 21 individuals still facing prosecution in Siwan.
- Charges stemmed from mass protests demanding a re-examination.
The movement began following the June 4 results, where an unprecedented number of perfect scores and sudden grace marks triggered national debate. While the central government eventually initiated a CBI probe into the irregularities, hundreds of students across Bihar were initially booked for obstructing public spaces and violating assembly restrictions during the peak of the outcry.
Source: Indian Express India
