Supreme Court orders care for pellet-injured protesters

The Supreme Court on Thursday, July 30, directed the Delhi government to ensure medical treatment for individuals injured by pellet guns during a protest at Jantar Mantar earlier this month. The court also agreed to examine the rules governing the use of such weapons while noting that existing police regulations permit their deployment in exceptional circumstances.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by former Intelligence Bureau special director and Central Information Commissioner Yashovardhan Azad, along with two other individuals who claim to be victims. The petition arose from a protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party on July 20, which was related to the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The demonstrators were participating in a "Sansad Chalo" march when clashes occurred with security forces, including the Rapid Action Force.

The petitioners sought a nationwide ban on the use of "wholly or partly metallic kinetic projectiles," or pellet guns, for dispersing civilian assemblies. They argued that such weapons cause severe injuries and are incompatible with...