"The protest was peaceful" Madras HC remarks, while quashing FIR against anti-CAA protesters

Chennai: The Madras High Court has quashed an FIR filed against two anti-CAA-NRC protesters with a remark that the protest was peaceful.

The court was considering a petition with a prayer to call for the entire records pertaining to the First Information Report in a case registered against anti-CAA protesters and quash the same as against the petitioner.

The court in its order held that though there are prima facie materials to justify the registration of the FIR, it is of the view that its continuance was "not warranted'.

While observing that quashing the FIR will secure the ends of justice, the order reasoned that no untoward incident had taken place.

"The country had witnessed protests all over by different sections of people against the said amendments. Since the protest was peaceful and even the First Information Report does not disclose any act of violence or happening of untoward incident," the order issued by Justice Nisha Banu reads.

The order also categorically said that the benefit of the order will enure not only for the petitioner but also the non-petitioning accused.