The Supreme Court of India ordered a review of police pellet-gun use for crowd control on Thursday [1].
The decision comes amid growing concerns over the alleged misuse of these weapons during public protests. The court's scrutiny focuses on the balance between maintaining public order and protecting the physical safety of citizens during demonstrations.
During the hearing on July 30 [1], the court said it requested the central government to provide the standard operating procedure (SOP) governing the use of pellet guns. This request follows petitions challenging the deployment of such weapons by the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force during protests, including those related to NEET-UG strikes [1].
Despite the call for stricter guidelines, the court said it was not inclined to impose a blanket ban on the use of pellet guns [2]. The bench said such weapons should be utilized only in "exceptional circumstances" [3].
The proceedings highlighted a discrepancy regarding the nature of the munitions used. Some reports indicate that police fired kinetic metallic projectiles at protesters [1], while other accounts describe the use of rubber or plastic pellets, which are generally considered less harmful [2].
The court is now waiting for the Centre's response regarding the legal and operational protocols that dictate when and how these weapons are deployed. The outcome of this review will likely determine the legal threshold for police force during civil unrest in the capital.
“The Supreme Court is not inclined to impose a blanket ban on pellet guns.”
This judicial review signals a move toward greater transparency in police crowd-control tactics in India. By demanding a formal SOP, the court is establishing a legal benchmark to determine whether police actions during protests were proportionate or excessive, while simultaneously acknowledging the state's need for non-lethal tools in extreme scenarios.
