Pushes for compensation policy for affected families
New Delhi: The CJP on Tuesday termed the Supreme Court’s decision to quash FIRs registered against NEET protesters a “major victory” and said the government’s commitment to frame a pan-India compensation policy within three months must now translate into relief for affected families.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said in a statement that the court’s order provided relief to protesters who faced criminal cases for participating in the demonstrations over the NEET-UG paper leak crisis, including unidentified persons, and would also cover any similar FIRs subsequently found to have been left out of the lists submitted by the Centre and states.
“Today’s decision is a victory for every student who was told that raising their voice was a crime.
We protested because the government refused to listen. Instead of answering students, the state responded with FIRs and police action,” CJP founder and national convenor Abhijeet Dipke said.
The Supreme Court has now given relief to those who were “dragged into criminal cases for exercising their democratic right to protest”, he said, adding that the ruling should send a message that dissent cannot be suppressed through intimidation.
“Students should be in classrooms, not police stations. They should not have to take to the streets to demand basic accountability from their government. This decision should be a lesson to those in power that dissent cannot be silenced through intimidation,” he said.
The CJP also welcomed the Supreme Court taking note of the government’s commitment to formulate a pan-India compensation policy within three months for families of students who died by suicide in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak crisis.
CJP co-convenor Saurav Das said the commitment was significant for families that had been seeking recognition, accountability and financial support.
“There is no compensation for the loss of a child. Nothing can undo what these families have gone through. But the government cannot look away from its responsibility,” Das said.
“The commitment made before the Supreme Court must now translate into a fair and transparent policy that reaches every eligible family,” he said.
