TN to withdraw cases against students involved in NEET protests

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 Rajmohan announced on Sunday.

The decision was taken on the directions of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and is expected to benefit students booked by the police during demonstrations held across the state against the medical entrance examination.

In a post on X, Rajmohan said the government has decided to withdraw all cases registered against students in connection with anti-NEET protests.

Further details regarding the withdrawal process and the cases covered by the decision would be announced shortly, he added.

The announcement comes days after widespread protests over NEET were held in several parts of the country, with students and youth organisations raising concerns over the examination system and demanding changes.

Tamil Nadu also witnessed a series of demonstrations, including rallies, flash protests and other forms of agitation.

Various student organisations and political groups organised demonstrations at several locations in the state. In Chennai, protesters staged a continuous agitation at Balan Illam, the State headquarters of the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Flash protests were also reported from some parts of the state. Police intervened at a few locations after protesters resorted to road blockades.

Several students were detained during such demonstrations, while cases were registered in connection with some of the protests.

The state government’s latest announcement is expected to pave the way for the withdrawal of criminal proceedings arising from the anti-NEET demonstrations. Officials are likely to examine the cases registered by police stations across Tamil Nadu before initiating the formal withdrawal process.

Tamil Nadu has witnessed sustained opposition to NEET over the years, with political parties and student organisations repeatedly arguing that the examination places students from state-board, rural and economically weaker backgrounds at a disadvantage.

The government’s move is also in line with steps taken by some other states to withdraw cases against students and protesters booked during anti-NEET agitations. A detailed government announcement specifying the number and nature of cases to be withdrawn is expected soon.

IANS