Archive · 30 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Allows Pellet Guns, Orders Log Preservation
On July 28, 2024, the Supreme Court of India said that police can use pellet guns only in special situations.
It also told the government to keep a record of the bullets used by the Rapid Action Force during a student protest at Jantar Mantar.
The court said a request to ban all pellet guns was too vague because the rules already allow them in emergencies.
It asked Delhi to give good medical care to people who were hurt, like Prashant Kumar Singh and Sheikh Irshad Mansoori.
Some politicians, like Rahul Gandhi, want a special committee to look into what happened.
Others, like Kapil Sibal, asked the Home Minister why he had not spoken about it.
The court also said it would keep video and phone records from the protest.
This way, if there were problems, the evidence would be ready for investigation.
Supreme Court allowed pellet guns in exceptional circumstances and ordered preservation of Rapid Action Force ammunition logs from July 20 NEET protest at Jantar Mantar.
Court deemed plea for nationwide ban on metallic pellet guns vague, citing existing BPRD advisory that permits use.
Court directed Delhi government to provide adequate medical treatment to injured protesters, including Prashant Kumar Singh and Sheikh Irshad Mansoori.
Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Kapil Sibal demanded independent investigation and questioned Home Minister Amit Shah’s silence over the incident.
Court also instructed preservation of CCTV, drone, body camera footage and wireless logs related to the protest.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, petitioners Yashovardhan Azad, Prashant Kumar Singh, Sheikh Irshad Mansoori, opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Kapil Sibal, Delhi government, Rapid Action Force
- What
- Directed preservation of RAF ammunition logs, allowed pellet guns in exceptional circumstances, ordered medical treatment for injured protesters, deemed plea for ban vague
- When
- Thursday
- Where
- Delhi, Jantar Mantar, NEET protest
- Why
- To investigate alleged misuse of pellet guns and ensure evidence for injuries
- Court Decision
- Allowed pellet guns in exceptional circumstances
- Preserved Logs
- Rapid Action Force ammunition logs
- Medical Treatment
- Ordered for injured protesters
- Plea Status
- Vague, not a ban
- Preservation of Evidence
- CCTV, drone, body camera footage
Sources
Police can use pellet guns in exceptional situations, says Supreme Court; seeks RAF log on Jantar Mantar firing
Can ‘exceptional circumstances’ justify the use of pellet guns on protesters? What Supreme Court said
Youth protests: SC directs Centre to preserve log of ammunition used by RAF at Jantar Mantar
