Chennai:
The Tamil Nadu government will withdraw all cases registered against students who participated in protests against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), School Education Minister A. Rajmohan announced on Sunday. The decision, taken on the directions of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, is expected to benefit students booked by police during demonstrations held across the state against the medical entrance examination.
Minister’s Announcement
In a post on social media, Rajmohan said the government had decided to withdraw all cases registered against students in connection with the anti-NEET protests, adding that further details on the withdrawal process and the specific cases covered would be announced shortly. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for the decision.
Background:
A Wave of Protests Across the State The announcement comes days after widespread protests over NEET swept several parts of the country, following the CJP-led demonstrations in Delhi against the examination paper leak issue, with students and youth organisations raising concerns over the examination system and demanding reforms. Tamil Nadu saw its own series of demonstrations, including rallies and flash protests across multiple locations. In Chennai, protesters held a continuous agitation at Balan Illam, the state headquarters of the Communist Party of India (CPI), while flash protests were reported from other parts of the state. Police intervened at several locations after protesters resorted to road blockades, and several students were detained during the demonstrations, with cases registered in connection with some of the protests.
Why the Decision Matters
The move comes after the state government faced criticism from some quarters over cases being filed against students who had protested in solidarity with the broader national anti-paper-leak movement. The withdrawal is expected to pave the way for closing pending criminal proceedings against affected students, though the government has not yet specified the exact number of cases or students involved.
Note: This report is based on the minister’s statements and information available at the time of publication. Further details on the scope of the withdrawal are awaited.
