India, July 28 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed authorities not to take any coercive action against students who participated in protests over alleged examination irregularities and ordered the immediate release of all children below the age of 18 who were detained during the demonstrations.

The Court also directed authorities to preserve all CCTV footage, drone recordings, body-worn camera footage, wireless communication records and police control room call logs related to the protests, observing that the material would be crucial for any future investigation.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and J.V. Mohana, said the allegations placed before it disclosed ...