Plea on use of pellet guns: SC asks Centre to preserve ammunition log of RAF used in NEET protests

The Supreme Court on Thursday, 30 July directed the Centre to preserve the ammunition log of the Rapid Action Force deployed at Jantar Mantar during protests by students over the NEET paper leak.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also directed the Delhi government to provide the best possible treatment to those who suffered pellet injuries during the protest.

The court was hearing a plea filed by former Central Information Commissioner and retired IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad and two others seeking a nationwide ban on the use of metallic pellet guns to deal with law and order situations.

The bench questioned one of the prayers in the plea and referred to an advisory issued by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, saying police are empowered to use pellet guns in exceptional situations.

The bench, however, said it was willing to examine the use of pellet guns during the July 20 protests called by the Cockroach Janta Party.

Taking note of submissions by senior advocate Vrinda Grover, the bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, to preserve the ammunition log of the RAF personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar during the protest.

Azad has approached the Supreme Court seeking a nationwide ban on the use of wholly or partly metallic pellet ammunition fired from pump-action or projectile-action guns for dispersing civilian assemblies, contending that such weapons are inherently incompatible with constitutional standards governing the use of force.

The public interest litigation, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, was jointly instituted by Azad and two individuals who claim to have sustained pellet injuries during the "Sansad Chalo" protest in central Delhi on July 20.

The petition also seeks exemplary compensation, comprehensive medical treatment and rehabilitation for all persons allegedly injured in the incident.