Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 30: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought details from the Centre and Delhi Police regarding the rules and standard operating procedure (SOP) governing the use of metallic pellet guns by security personnel during protests.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Centre after hearing a petition challenging the alleged use of pellet guns during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests at Jantar Mantar, Delhi.

The court observed that police rules permit the use of pellet guns only in exceptional circumstances and directed Delhi Police to place the existing SOP on record.

Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Vrinda Grover argued that the weapons used during the protest fired kinetic metallic projectiles, which were different from rubber or plastic pellets.

"There can be rubber, plastic and metallic pellets. These were metallic and recovered from the bodies. Nature of the crowd will determine use of this as well. Was it a violent mob? No. These metallic pellets were fired," Grover told the bench.

Justice Bagchi noted that police rules already provide for the use of pellet guns as part of a graded response mechanism in certain situations.

"But police rules allow the use in exceptional circumstances unless you challenge the rules themselves. One of the steps of graded approach is use of pellet guns," the judge observed.

The court said it was open to examining whether the use of pellet guns was justified in this particular case but noted that the petitioners would have to establish that the deployment violated the prescribed use-of-force guidelines.

Chief Justice Surya Kant suggested that the petitioners could seek broader guidelines on the use of pellet guns instead of challenging the use of the weapons altogether.

"In light of the alleged excessive use, your prayer should be that the court lays down a protocol regarding the use," the CJI observed.

Justice Bagchi said the court supported a non-violent approach towards student protests but acknowledged that authorities may need to use graded force in certain situations.

The petition relates to clashes during the CJP's 'Chalo Sansad' march on July 20 over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The confrontation between protesters and security forces around Jantar Mantar left several people injured.

The alleged use of pellet guns triggered political controversy after reports claimed that protesters suffered injuries from projectiles used during the security operation.

According to police records submitted before the court, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) used 55 non-electrical shells, 15 electrical shells, five tear smoke grenades, two anti-riot gun rounds and two rounds of plastic pellets to control the crowd.

Police officials have maintained that plastic pellet cartridges contain four projectiles designed to cause fewer injuries compared to metallic pellets.

Meanwhile, the CJP ended its 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday after claiming that the Centre had accepted its major demands, including the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, withdrawal of cases against protesters and consideration of examination system reforms.