RJD MP Manoj Jha Moves SC Over Police Firing on NEET Protesters

Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha of the Rashtriya Janata Dal has moved the Supreme Court seeking registration of FIRs against police officers accused of using excessive force — including AK-47 rifles — against students protesting the NEET-UG paper leak across several states between 20 and 25 July.

The writ petition, filed through Advocate-on-Record Ujjwal Singh, was mentioned before a three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana on Monday. Advocate Fauzia Shakil told the bench the petition carried “comprehensive information, including Bihar firing.” The bench agreed to list the matter for hearing on Tuesday, 28 July, alongside a batch of petitions alleging police excesses against students during the nationwide protests.

What we can verify

• Petition filed: Manoj Jha’s plea was mentioned before the Supreme Court on 27 July 2026 and listed for 28 July. The bench acknowledged the broader batch of petitions on police force against NEET protesters. — Live Law; Deccan Herald

• Core prayers: The petition asks the court to direct all States and Union Territories to:

  1. Register FIRs on allegations of police brutality and disproportionate force against peaceful protesters from 20 to 25 July, especially the 20 July crackdown at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, and the 26 July Siwan firing in Bihar.
  2. Form Special Investigation Teams in each State/UT comprising the Director General of Police and two senior women IPS officers (not below IG rank), supervised by a retired High Court judge and monitored by the Supreme Court, to complete the probe within three months.
  3. Preserve and disclose all video evidence, Section 163 (BNSS) orders, Sansad Chalo march denial letters, deployment plans, CCTV/drone/body-cam footage, barricade maps, exit routes, and tear-gas/pellet-gun authorisation orders.
  4. Issue pan-India guidelines / a uniform national SOP on the use of force during public demonstrations, mandating minimum necessary force, mandatory recording of crowd-control operations, and compulsory name badges on uniformed personnel.
  5. Restrain States/UTs from documenting, intimidating or detaining students who protested, and disclose all FIRs already registered against protesters (including sections invoked and accused details).
  6. Initiate criminal and disciplinary proceedings against errant officers and award compensation and medical-cost coverage to victims. — Live Law

• Siwan incident: On 26 July, during a Bihar bandh called by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) against the NEET paper leak, Siwan police opened fire. Three civilians — Bullet Kumar Gond, Akash and Arif — sustained bullet injuries. Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha confirmed the suspension of an SIT officer after a video showed him firing an AK-47 in the air. The SP stated eight to ten rounds were discharged by police (four from long-range weapons, three from pistols). — Live Law; Indian Express

• CJP context: The protests were sparked by the Cockroach Janta Party’s 36-day sit-in at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, an independent probe into the NEET leak, withdrawal of FIRs against protesters, and compensation for families of students who died by suicide. Pradhan resigned on 25 July; the CJP called off its agitation the same day after the Centre agreed to its demands. — The Indian Express

What remains unverified

• Whether the two additional bullet injuries (Akash, Arif) in Siwan were caused by police rounds or other gunfire in the melee — the SP explicitly said it is “unclear” and under investigation. — The Hindu

• The exact sequence that led the suspended officer to chamber and fire the AK-47 (provocation, orders, or indiscipline) — no departmental inquiry report has been released.

• Whether any protester was armed or returned fire — police have not produced evidence of firearms recovered from demonstrators.