Magistrate suspended over notice to GBU student, Supreme Court told

An Executive Magistrate attached to the Greater Noida Commissionerate has been suspended after issuing a show cause notice to a student of Gautam Buddha University in connection with the NEET-UG protests, the Supreme Court was informed on Thursday.

Solicitor-General of India Tushar Mehta conveyed the suspension to the court. The notice had been issued to Akshat Tripathi under Section 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita as part of preventive proceedings.

The action drew the court's attention because it came on September 4, three days after the Supreme Court, on September 1, barred coercive measures against students who had taken part in the agitation.

Mr. Tripathi was asked to explain why he should not be required to furnish a personal bond of ₹5 lakh with two sureties, on the allegation that he instigated fellow students to join a proposed dharna of the Cockroach Janta Party.

On September 9, the court expressed its displeasure over the notice. The Chief Justice observed that the Magistrate had no authority to issue it when the court had already quashed the FIRs and directed that no penal action would be taken against any student.

"It was a clear-cut order. The language was very plain. Any layperson could understand the order," the Chief Justice said.

The September 1 order had quashed FIRs registered against protesters, who were overwhelmingly students, in the agitation over the NEET-UG question paper leaks. The court had also barred fresh FIRs against students in connection with the Cockroach Janta Party protests.