Tamil Nadu drops cases against NEET protest students

The Tamil Nadu government announced on August 2, 2026, that it will withdraw all criminal cases registered against students who participated in protests against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The decision was ordered by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and announced by School Education Minister A. Rajmohan in a social media post.

Minister Rajmohan stated that the government would soon provide further details on the withdrawal process. He expressed gratitude to the chief minister for the directive. The announcement follows criticism directed at the state government for initiating legal action against student protesters. These protests were part of a wave of demonstrations across India, including major rallies in New Delhi, sparked by allegations of a paper leak in the NEET examination.

The move aligns Tamil Nadu with several other state governments that have taken similar steps to drop cases against NEET protesters. In Tamil Nadu, demonstrations included flash protests and a continuous sit-in at the Communist Party of India's state headquarters in Chennai. Police had detained some students during these protests for actions such as road blockades.