Jobs, not words
SC’s clarification on dropping protest cases is welcome. The government should focus on the real problems facing young people
The Supreme Court’s clarification that states can withdraw or close FIRs filed against protesters during last month’s student protests is welcome. It is good news for students, police, courts and democracy.
It has been 10 days since CJP called off its protest. States had said they would withdraw the cases, but students were still worried about being prosecuted. This was partly because the SC had earlier allowed police to continue investigating without taking harsh action against the protesters. Monday’s clarification makes it clear that these cases can now be put behind us, unless a suspect has earlier been accused of serious crimes such as rape or murder.
The protests were mostly peaceful, and the clashes on and after July 20 did not cause major damage to public property. Keeping these cases open would only add more work for the police and courts. It could also disturb the studies of thousands of students. Many cases were filed simply because people used rude or offensive language.
Such language may be in bad taste, but that does not mean it is always a crime. The police are not supposed to police people’s language. Yet the police and some others have spent time chasing such cases. The case involving a 15-year-old girl and her single mother is one example. Yes, the girl used offensive words. But surely the government has more important things to do than go after teenagers for swearing.
The sooner everyone puts the events of July 20-25 behind them, the better. But the reasons that led to the protests must not be forgotten. There had been several exam leaks, while good jobs were becoming harder to find. The protests showed the anger and worry felt by many young people. The government should deal with these problems instead of using police cases to punish protesters. Such cases only distract attention from the real issues.
India has one of the world’s biggest Gen Z populations. Until recently, we celebrated our large young population as a demographic dividend — an advantage that could help the country grow. But if young people cannot find jobs, this advantage can turn into a serious problem. Large-scale unemployment among young people can create frustration and instability.
There is also the question of whether entrance exams are fair. When good opportunities are limited, students expect the best candidates to get them based on merit. But exam leaks show that this does not always happen. When papers are leaked, people can get ahead without earning it, while deserving students lose out.
So the government knows what it needs to do. It must improve the education system, make exams harder to cheat in, and create conditions that lead to more jobs. What someone said in the heat of a protest is much less important. The government should focus on giving young people fair exams and good jobs.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
