Cockroach Janta Party Calls Off September 5 Protest Following Developments on NEET FIR Closures

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced on Tuesday that it has called off its scheduled September 5 protest. The update was formally communicated to the Supreme Court during a hearing.

CJP co-convenor Saurav Das appeared before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. He informed the court that the political group decided to withdraw the protest following developments concerning the closure of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against students who took part in the NEET paper leak protests.

During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested the top court to exercise its powers to formally close all FIRs filed against NEET protesters between July 20 and July 25 across the country.

Additionally, the Solicitor General stated before the bench that the Centre remains committed to honoring assurances previously given to CJP leaders. This includes providing compensation to the families of students who died by suicide following the cancellation of the NEET examination. Mehta asked the court for a period of three months to work out the operational modalities for disbursing this compensation.

Previously, the CJP had announced a protest march in Delhi on September 5, which coincides with Teachers' Day. The group had earlier accused the Centre of failing to fulfill promises made on July 25, which had initially persuaded the organization to withdraw its 36-day agitation against exam irregularities and the NEET paper leak.

According to initial plans outlined by the CJP, the September 5 march was intended to be led by the families of students who died by suicide following the cancellation of the NEET exam and subsequent re-test. The march was also planned to include individuals who alleged they faced police excesses during the protests in July.

"This development highlights the importance of institutional dialogue and judicial oversight in resolving civil disputes and policy grievances. When parties engage constructively through legal and administrative channels, it helps prevent prolonged disruptions and builds mutual accountability between governance bodies and citizen groups. For organizations and leadership teams navigating high-stakes disputes, structured negotiations and adhering to established commitments remain critical for achieving stable, long-term resolutions." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes