The **Supreme Court has invoked Article 142 of the Constitution** to quash FIRs registered against students and young people who participated peacefully in protests over the **NEET-UG paper leak issue** between 20 and 25 July 2026.

The Court extended relief to those who participated **bona fide and peacefully**, while distinguishing legitimate democratic protest from acts involving violence, destruction of property or serious disturbance of public order.

# What is Article 142?

**Article 142** empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or order necessary to ensure **“complete justice”** in a case pending before it.

It is an extraordinary constitutional power that enables the Court to provide effective remedies where ordinary legal mechanisms may not be sufficient.

# Key Features

* Enables the Court to mould relief according to the circumstances of a case.
* Provides an extraordinary discretionary constitutional power.
* Orders passed under Article 142 are enforceable throughout India.
* Can help fill legal or procedural gaps where an adequate remedy is unavailable.
* Cannot ordinarily be used to disregard substantive statutory law or express constitutional provisions.

# Right to Peaceful Protest Under Article 19

The Constitution does not expressly mention a separate **“right to protest.”** However, peaceful protest flows from fundamental freedoms under **Article 19**.

**Article 19(1)(A)** guarantees freedom of speech and expression.

**Article 19(1)(B)** guarantees the right to assemble peacefully and without arms.

These rights are subject to reasonable restrictions.

Under **Article 19(2)**, restrictions may be imposed on grounds including sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, public order, decency or morality, contempt of court, defamation and incitement to an offence.

Similarly, **Article 19(3)** permits reasonable restrictions on peaceful assembly in the interests of public order and sovereignty and integrity of India.

Therefore, constitutional protection extends to peaceful dissent but does not provide immunity for violence, vandalism or serious disruption of public order.

# Important Supreme Court Cases on Article 142

* **Union Carbide Corporation v. Union of India (1991)** – Article 142 was invoked in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy litigation.
* **Supreme Court Bar Association v. Union of India (1998)** – Clarified that Article 142 cannot override substantive law.
* **Laxmi Kant Pandey v. Union of India (1984)** – Safeguards were framed for inter-country adoption.
* **Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997)** – Vishaka Guidelines were issued in the absence of specific legislation on workplace sexual harassment.
* **Shilpa Sailesh v. Varun Sreenivasan (2023)** – Recognised the Court’s ability to dissolve a marriage in appropriate cases using Article 142.

# Why Is This Important?

The ruling highlights the balance between **individual liberty, democratic dissent, public order and the rule of law**.

For UPSC aspirants, the topic is relevant to **Indian Polity, Fundamental Rights, Article 19, Article 142, judicial powers, right to protest and constitutional democracy**.

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Article 142: Supreme Court, Right to Protest & NEET-UG Case