New Delhi, Aug. 3 -- The Supreme Court on Monday clarified that the Delhi government and various state governments are free to close or withdraw FIRs registered against protesters involved in the recent student protest led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana explained that its July 28 order permitting prosecution of protesters with "criminal antecedents" was intended to apply only to those accused of grave and heinous offences.

The apex court clarified that the expression "criminal antecedents" should be understood in that limited sense.

The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions relating to...