Supreme Court Questions Police Use of Pellet Guns in Delhi Protests

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India took up a significant case regarding the use of metallic pellet guns by law enforcement during protests organized by the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The court's inquiry was prompted by a petition that challenges the legality of employing such weapons, which are typically reserved for exceptional situations. Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, led the bench that issued a notice to the central government, demanding clarification on the standard operating procedures (SOP) that dictate when and how pellet guns can be deployed by police forces.

During the proceedings, senior advocate Vrinda Grover, representing the petitioners, highlighted the dangers associated with the use of metallic pellet guns, which she described as firing “kinetic metallic projectiles.” This distinction is crucial, as it sets these weapons apart from others that use rubber or plastic pellets, which are generally considered less harmful. Grover emphasized that the nature of the crowd should influence the decision to use such forceful measures, questioning whether the protesters constituted a violent mob. She pointed out that the metallic pellets used were recovered from individuals, underscoring the potential for serious injury. Her arguments aimed to convince the court that the deployment of these weapons was inappropriate in this context.