Supreme Court Orders Centre to Secure Ammunition Records Used by RAF During Youth Protests at Jantar Mantar

In a significant development concerning the recent youth protests in Delhi, the Supreme Court directed the Central Government on Thursday to ensure the preservation of records detailing the ammunition used by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) during their deployment at Jantar Mantar. This directive comes amidst increasing scrutiny over the handling of crowds protesting against alleged discrepancies in competitive examination management.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, was addressing various petitions that called for a prohibition on the usage of pellet guns as a means to disperse protesters. The petitions were filed in the wake of incidents during the demonstrations on July 20, where two petitioners, Prashant Kumar Singh and Sheikh Irshad Mansoor, reported suffering injuries from pellet gun fire by security forces.

Leading the charge in this legal challenge is former Intelligence Bureau Special Director Yashovardhan Azad, who has raised concerns about the legality of using such measures against civilians. During the proceedings, the court expressed its intent to review the usage of pellet guns in crowd control, but underscored that the petitioners have not yet challenged the existing police regulations that allow for their use under specific circumstances.

Justice Bagchi noted that the court could not grant the relief sought by the petitioners unless they formally contest the regulations that govern the deployment of pellet guns. He emphasized the need for a structured argument regarding the permissibility of such force under a “graded approach” to crowd control. This means that the petitioners must demonstrate that the use of pellet guns was not justifiable in the context of the protests.

Representing the petitioners, lawyer Vrinda Grover underscored the urgency of addressing the issues surrounding the use of pellet guns, particularly in light of the injuries reported during the protests. The Supreme Court’s engagement in this matter signals a broader concern regarding the tactics employed by security forces in managing public dissent, particularly in an era where youth are increasingly vocal about their rights and grievances.

Source: scroll.in