New Delhi, September 9, 2026: The Supreme Court on Wednesday strongly criticised a Greater Noida executive magistrate for issuing a preventive notice to a law student despite the court’s earlier order protecting young people from coercive action merely for participating in the Cockroach Janta Party-led protests.
The matter concerns Akshat Tripathi, a 20-year-old second-year law student at Gautam Buddha University. Authorities accused him of spreading misleading and “anti-government” information and encouraging other students to participate in the July demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant questioned how a magistrate could initiate such proceedings when the Supreme Court had already issued clear directions against taking coercive action over participation in the protests. The court indicated that it would seek an explanation from the Gautam Budh Nagar authorities.
The September 4 notice asked Tripathi to explain why he should not be required to furnish a personal bond of ₹5 lakh, along with two local sureties of the same amount, to maintain peace for six months. Proceedings were initiated under preventive provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
Tripathi denied the allegations, saying that he had participated peacefully in the demonstration and was not present on the university campus when he was allegedly provoking students. The notice was subsequently withdrawn after officials examined the information on which it had been issued.
The Supreme Court noted that the action appeared contrary to its September 1 order, under which criminal proceedings connected with the July 20–25 protests were closed, subject to specified exceptions. The court had also clarified that mere participation in the demonstrations could not be treated as a criminal offence.
The controversy has renewed the debate over administrative use of preventive laws against students and the constitutional protection available to peaceful protesters.
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