The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that protests are an integral part of a democracy as it heard petitions alleging police excesses against students demonstrating over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination irregularities. The court also directed police in all states to ensure that digital data collected from protesters is preserved and not brought into the public domain.
At the outset of the hearing, the court also directed all states to release students below the age of 18 who were detained during the protests, provided they have no criminal antecedents.