‘How could a Magistrate dare?’: Supreme Court slams Greater Noida officer's notice to student over Jantar Mantar protest

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 9, questioned how a Greater Noida Executive Magistrate could issue a notice to a student over his alleged involvement in the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests, despite the court’s earlier order against taking coercive action against students.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant objected to the notice issued to a second-year student of Gautam Buddha University, asking him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh to maintain peace.

“How could a Magistrate dare to issue notice? We made clear no coercive action against any student! No Magistrate could violate that order,” the CJI remarked.

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The matter came up before the bench after Senior Advocate Bishwajit Bhattacharyya said the notice was issued based on a police report. He said the notice was later withdrawn but argued that such action could create fear among students.

“This is an experiment with students of India. This is prima facie contempt. Authorities of Noida and UP can't create fear psychosis among students,” he told the court.

What was the notice about?

The notice, issued on September 4, was against Akshat Tripathi, a second-year student at Gautam Buddha University.

Police had alleged that Tripathi was encouraging students to join a proposed CJP protest and was “spreading and instigating anti-government misleading talks” among students.

Based on the police report, the Executive Magistrate asked Tripathi to explain why he should not be required to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh, along with two sureties of Rs 5 lakh each, to maintain peace. The notice was allegedly later withdrawn.

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Why did the Supreme Court object?

The notice came after the Supreme Court had quashed FIRs against participants in the CJP-led protests over alleged National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 paper leaks. The court had also directed that students should not face coercive action over the protests.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court asked the lawyer to place the notice on record through a petition. The CJI said the court would then seek an explanation from the authority that issued it.