New Delhi, July 30 — Genuine student participants in the recent protests at Jantar Mantar will not face any legal action, and those arrested or detained will be released expeditiously, a Delhi Home Department official announced on Thursday.

The assurance comes as Delhi Police prepares to proceed against individuals who had prior criminal records before joining the demonstrations. A circular issued by Principal Secretary (Home) Santosh D. Vaidya stated that 13 cases had been registered in connection with the protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.

Offering clear relief to bona fide students, Vaidya said: “No adverse legal action will be taken by any of the police authorities within the National Capital Territory of Delhi against those persons who have been involved in these protests. The protection, however, shall not extend to persons having criminal antecedents, as mandated in the order of the Supreme Court.”

The decision to drop proceedings against protesters without criminal backgrounds was taken with the consent of Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu, the highest authority on law and order and Delhi Police in the capital.

According to an official statement, the Government of NCT of Delhi reached the conclusion after careful consideration of all circumstances and in light of the Supreme Court’s order dated July 28 in the case of Shailendra Mani Tripathi versus Union of India. “The Government of NCT of Delhi does not propose to take any further adverse action against the individuals involved in the protests, and the matter shall be treated as closed without any future proceedings on this account,” the statement said.

The protests, which lasted 36 days and included a confrontation with police on July 20 in the high-security zone, were withdrawn on Saturday. Allegations of excessive force by police during that episode had earlier triggered an uproar in Parliament, with the Opposition raising the issue during debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.

By distinguishing between genuine student participants and those with existing criminal records, the Delhi government has sought to close the chapter for the majority of protesters while allowing police action to continue where antecedents warrant it. The move follows the Supreme Court’s directions and aims to prevent prolonged legal uncertainty for students who joined the agitation without prior criminal involvement.