'In Exceptional Circumstances': SC's Big Remark On Police Use Of Pellet Guns During Delhi Protests
'In Exceptional Circumstances': SC's Big Remark On Police Use Of Pellet Guns During Delhi Protests Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 11:54 IST Supreme
'In Exceptional Circumstances': SC's Big Remark On Police Use Of Pellet Guns During Delhi Protests Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 11:54 IST Supreme Court questions Centre on SOP for metallic pellet guns used by police in CJP protests, noting rules allow use only in "exceptional circumstances. Visuals from CJP's protest at Jantar Mantar. (Source: PTI) The Supreme Court on Thursday examined a plea challenging the use of metallic pellet guns by police during the CJP protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, observing that police rules permit such measures only “in exceptional circumstances" while asking the Centre to explain the standard operating procedure (SOP) governing their use. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Centre on the petition and sought its response on the rules and SOP relating to the deployment of pellet guns by police. During the hearing, senior advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the pellet guns used against protesters fired “kinetic metallic projectiles", distinguishing them from rubber or plastic pellets. Explaining the distinction, Grover told the court, “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." Responding to the submissions, Justice Bagchi said, “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." Grover, however, maintained that the challenge was limited to the use of metallic pellets and not pellet guns in general. “I wish the Delhi Police or the government doesn’t wish to fire metallic pellets on young people," she said, urging the Union government to place the relevant rules and guidelines on record.
Also Read: ‘Work Fearlessly, I’ll Take Responsibility’: CRPF Chief’s Big Message To Police Personnel Amid Pellet Gun Row ‘Not Averse To Examining Legality Of Pellet Gun Use’ The court indicated it was open to examining the legality of pellet gun use in a specific incident but noted that the petitioners would have to demonstrate whether such use was impermissible under the graded response framework. “We are not averse to examining the use of pellets in an individual case. You have to show us if graded response use of pellets can be allowed when even bullets are used in some situations," Justice Bagchi observed. Chief Justice Surya Kant suggested that the petition could instead seek judicial guidelines governing the use of pellet guns. “In light of alleged excessive use.. your prayer should be that the court lays down a protocol regarding the use," the said. Grover agreed, clarifying, “Yes, only metallic pellets." During the hearing, Justice Bagchi recalled a past police regulation struck down by the Calcutta High Court, saying, “In Calcutta HC there was a rule that bullets should be fired at the chest to preserve ammunition and not any other body area." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta responded, “must be some colonial era..", to which Justice Bagchi added that the rule had been set aside and that the petitioners would have to establish whether existing regulations governing pellet guns were arbitrary. Grover argued that there was no known standing order of the Delhi Police authorising the use of pellet guns. “There is no standing order of Delhi police mandating the use of pellets…if that is there.. let it be placed..I am sure Union or NCT does not want to fire pellets at students.." she submitted.
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