India, July 28 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that the violence during the student protests in Delhi and states across the country warranted a "thorough, fair and impartial" investigation, while directing that minors arrested during the demonstrations be released immediately and restraining police from taking coercive action against protesting students or making their personal data public.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana clarified that the interim protection would not extend to "anti-social elements" or persons having criminal antecedents.

Issuing notices to the Union government and the chief secretaries of Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, Kerala, West Be...