Akshat Tripathi, a second-year law student at Gautam Buddha University, has finally received relief in a legal battle concerning the right to democratic protest. The Uttar Pradesh government informed the Supreme Court that it has withdrawn the ₹5 lakh surety bond notice issued to the student in connection with a protest organized by the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP). Following this clarification, the apex court directed that any action or step taken against the student based on that notice be considered legally void.
The case was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. The UP administration had issued the notice to Akshat Tripathi under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita following a planned protest by the CJP in Greater Noida. The notice, issued on September 4, cited concerns over a potential breach of peace and directed the student to submit a personal bond of ₹5 lakh along with two sureties of the same amount.
Expressing strong dissatisfaction with the Executive Magistrate’s role, Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked during the hearing, “How can a Magistrate dare to issue such a notice? We had made it clear that no punitive action should be taken against any student. No Magistrate can violate that order.” The Chief Justice further noted that the court could have quashed the notice that very day if necessary.
In response, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Central Government, informed the court that the Uttar Pradesh government had officially withdrawn the controversial notice issued on September 4. Recording this statement, the bench declared all proceedings based on the notice as null and void.
The student had alleged in his petition that the state administration had not presented accurate information regarding the ₹5 lakh bond notice in court. However, this latest Supreme Court order completely blocks any punitive or administrative action against the student based on that notice.
