India's Top Court Curbs Pellet Gun Use, Demands Police Ammunition Records

India's Supreme Court has put a significant check on the use of controversial pellet guns by police, stating they can only be deployed in 'exceptional situations' for crowd control. The top court has also demanded that the Centre preserve the ammunition log book of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel involved in recent protests at Jantar Mantar, where allegations of metallic pellet use have surfaced. This directive comes amidst ongoing legal challenges to these so-called 'non-lethal' weapons following injuries sustained by protesters during a July 20 demonstration against the NEET paper leak. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, declined to impose an outright ban on pellet guns without a direct challenge to the existing regulations that permit their use. However, they questioned the ambiguity surrounding the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for deployment, especially concerning metallic pellets, and directed the Delhi government to provide immediate medical treatment to the injured. The petitioners, including former Intelligence Bureau Special Director Yashovardhan Azad and two injured individuals, argue that metallic pellets violate constitutional rights and international guidelines, noting that the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) SOP do not list pellet guns for crowd control. Looking ahead, the Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre and the Inspector General of Police, RAF, indicating a deeper scrutiny into the rules governing crowd control. The court expects a detailed response on police protocols, with Advocate Vrinda Grover pushing for transparency on the standing orders for pellet gun use. This ongoing legal battle could lead to clearer, stricter guidelines for law enforcement on the permissible use of force, potentially reshaping India's approach to managing public protests and safeguarding citizen rights.