Bihar Grants Amnesty to NEET Protesters as Parliament Confronts National Paper Leak Crisis

Bihar Rescinds Charges Against Students; Delhi Deploys Facial Recognition

In a significant policy reversal, the Bihar government announced late Monday that it will drop all legal proceedings against individuals involved in the NEET paper leak protests. The State’s Home Department confirmed that no punitive or retaliatory measures will be taken against participants who demonstrated before 6:00 p.m. on July 26, 2026. This move necessitates the release of all protesters currently in custody.

While Bihar offers amnesty, security measures in the capital have intensified. Law enforcement sources revealed that Delhi Police utilized AI-powered facial recognition technology to identify 2,873 individuals with existing criminal records present during protests at Jantar Mantar. The system cross-referenced live CCTV feeds with established law enforcement databases to flag persons of interest.

Legislative Push Against Examination Fraud

The Union government introduced a new Bill in the Lok Sabha on July 27, 2026, designed to implement harsh penalties and mandatory timelines for investigating paper leaks. The introduction followed intense friction between the government and the Opposition regarding the treatment of student protesters. A potential legislative stalemate was narrowly avoided after Speaker Om Birla facilitated a truce between the NDA and INDIA bloc leaders, clearing the way for a formal debate on July 28.

Judicial Interventions and Administrative Stays

The Indian judiciary handled several high-profile administrative disputes on Monday.

• Azam Khan Legal Battle: The Moradabad Divisional Commissioner’s court granted interim relief to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, staying the planned demolition of 38 buildings until a final hearing. The Rampur Development Authority had previously marked these structures for destruction, citing lack of construction permits.
• Employment Orders Overturned: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court invalidated government orders that had granted state jobs to family members of those killed in the Karur stampede. The bench, led by Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel, ruled in favor of public interest litigation challenging the CM Vijay-led administration's decision.
• Pellet Gun Challenge: Former Intelligence Bureau Special Director Yashovardhan Azad filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a total ban on the use of metallic pellet guns for crowd control. The filing also demands compensation and rehabilitation for victims of injuries sustained during law enforcement actions on July 20.

Political Maneuvers and International Relations

In Bihar, the Bankipur Assembly bypoll has sparked a war of words. BJP national president Nitin Nabin dismissed political strategist Prashant Kishor as a businessman while conducting a roadshow alongside Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. On the global stage, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephone summit with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Xi expressed Beijing's support for Brazil against external interference just months before the nation faces a contentious election cycle.

Public Safety: Seattle Shooting Suspect Detained

In international news, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson confirmed the arrest of a 15-year-old suspect in connection with a shooting at a food festival near the Space Needle. The incident resulted in three fatalities and four injuries. The teenager is currently held in juvenile detention on charges of first-degree assault and firearms violations.

Source: The Hindu — News