Next Hearing on NEET Paper Leak Protests Scheduled; States Must Submit Affidavits

The Supreme Court, hearing petitions on August 3, ordered that the upcoming hearing on the NEET paper leak protests will take place on August 18. It directed the chief secretaries of the concerned states to lodge affidavits detailing their actions and responses to the incidents.

Attorney Shailendra Mani Tripathi explained that the court’s prior directive remains in force: serious criminal cases will continue to be investigated, whereas peaceful demonstrators are exempt from further prosecution. The Solicitor General conveyed that the Police Commissioner has not yet received the required instructions; a full answer will be submitted once they are in place.

Petitioners have asked the bench to produce a complete record of the deployment of pellet guns, including the circumstances and authorization. The court also hinted at the possibility of forming a Special Investigation Team or a high‑power committee to ensure a fair probe before the August 18 date.