Nation

IIE DIGITAL: The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine allegations that security personnel used pellet ammunition during the NEET paper leak protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, while making it clear that such force can only be used in exceptional law-and-order situations.

The petition has been filed by three individuals, including two protesters who claim they sustained pellet injuries during the 'Chalo Sansad' demonstration. The third petitioner is former Central Information Commissioner and retired bureaucrat Yashovardhan Azad, who has sought a complete ban on the use of metallic pellet ammunition for crowd control.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan observed that existing guidelines issued by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) permit the use of pellet ammunition only under extraordinary circumstances. However, the court said it would closely scrutinise whether those conditions were met during the student protest.

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was directed to ensure that all records relating to the ammunition issued to the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar are preserved until further orders.

The apex court also instructed authorities to provide proper medical treatment to those who allegedly suffered injuries during the protest. The matter will now proceed with the Supreme Court examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged use of pellet ammunition and whether it complied with the prescribed legal and operational guidelines.