The Tamil Nadu government has issued an order to immediately initiate the necessary legal proceedings for the withdrawal of all 65 criminal cases registered against around 1,800 people who participated in protests demanding the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), according to an official press release dated October 31, 2026.
Source: Medical Dialogues
The release said protests against the NEET examination were held at various times across Tamil Nadu between May 10, 2026 and July 31, 2026, and that a total of 65 criminal cases were registered at various police stations against around 1,800 people in connection with them. The cases are currently pending at different stages.
The government said the matter, including the present status of the cases, was brought to the notice of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, and that after carefully examining it, the government issued the withdrawal order as per the Chief Minister's directions.
Source: Reporter World News
The formal order follows an assurance in August, when School Education Minister A. Rajmohan said cases registered against students who protested against NEET would be withdrawn on the Chief Minister's directive, with further details to be announced. The October 31 release now puts a number on that commitment — 65 cases and around 1,800 people — and directs that the legal process begin immediately.
NEET UG 2026 was conducted on May 3 by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in pen-and-paper mode, with over 22.7 lakh aspirants appearing across more than 5,400 centres in 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, according to Medical Dialogues. The examination was later cancelled and a re-examination announced, in the backdrop of a Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group probe into an alleged leaked 'guess paper' — allegations that fuelled the protest wave across Tamil Nadu.
Withdrawal of prosecution cases requires the legal process set out in law, including court approval where applicable; the government release said the cases stand at different stages, and the order directs authorities to begin those proceedings now.