The Supreme Court has stepped into the controversy surrounding the Jantar Mantar student protests, clarifying that states are free to withdraw FIRs against student protesters while also examining broader questions of accountability. With the court considering an independent probe into alleged police excesses, reviewing protest protocols and weighing the future of Jantar Mantar as a protest venue, the debate now goes beyond one demonstration. How should India balance the right to protest with public order, and who must be held accountable when protests turn violent?
