NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has quashed all First Information Reports (FIRs) registered across the country against students and others who participated in protests over the NEET examination controversy. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana invoked the court's extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to issue the order on Tuesday.

The bench observed that "participating in a protest per se would not constitute an offence." The order came after the Centre moved the apex court seeking the quashing of the FIRs.

While quashing the FIRs, the court preserved the State's liberty to proceed against persons allegedly involved in bodily harm or destruction of property. The court also stated that its directions would be without prejudice to a pending constitutional challenge concerning facial recognition technology.

Following the Supreme Court's order, the CJP called off its protest scheduled for September 5.