Supreme Court Demands Clarity on Pellet Gun Use Amid Protests

On July 30, the Supreme Court of India requested the government to submit all pertinent standing orders related to the police's use of pellet guns. This directive came during a hearing concerning a petition that calls for a total prohibition on the deployment of pellet guns against civilians. The court emphasized the necessity of reviewing these standing orders to ensure that the use of such force is justified and regulated. Additionally, the court instructed the Delhi Police to maintain and safeguard all duty logs along with records of weapons and ammunition used during the protests. This inquiry is particularly relevant in light of recent events where it was reported that the Delhi Police allegedly employed pellet guns against demonstrators during the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) 'Sansad Chalo' protest march on July 20. This incident reportedly resulted in injuries to four individuals, raising serious concerns over the use of such force in crowd control situations.

The petition, which has drawn significant attention, was filed by former Intelligence Bureau officer Yashovardhan Azad, alongside two protestors who sustained injuries during the aforementioned protest, Prashant Kumar and Sheikh Irshad. They argue that the use of pellet guns, which are known for their potential to cause severe injuries, particularly to the eyes, is an inappropriate and excessive response to civil demonstrations. The petitioners are advocating for a comprehensive review and subsequent ban on the use of these weapons, citing the need for more humane and less harmful methods of crowd management. The Supreme Court's involvement underscores the gravity of the situation and the ongoing debate regarding the appropriate use of force by law enforcement agencies in India.