Supreme Court clarifies 'criminal antecedents' means grave offences in NEET 2026 protest case

A three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana has clarified that the term "criminal antecedents" used in its interim order regarding NEET 2026 protest violence shall mean "grave and heinous offences" only.

The clarification came while considering petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution concerning violence during the NEET Examination 2026 protests and subsequent demonstrations. The Court also allowed the NCT of Delhi and other states to decide on closure or withdrawal of FIRs in various cases in accordance with law.

Petitioners had alleged that protesting students demonstrating over alleged NEET question paper leakage faced indiscriminate police force across Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Kerala. The matter has been listed for hearing on 18 August 2026, with states directed to file counter affidavits.