A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns for crowd control after two individuals suffered pellet injuries during a protest march in New Delhi on July 20. The plea has also sought compensation, medical treatment and rehabilitation support for those injured during the alleged police action. The petition was filed by former IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad along with Prashant Kumar and Sheikh Irshad Mansoori, who were injured during the Cockroach Janata Party-led ‘Sansad Chalo’ march over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak issue.
The petitioners approached the top court through advocate Vrinda Grover, seeking directions to prohibit the use of metallic kinetic projectiles or pellets fired from pump-action rifles or Projectile Action Guns (PAG) for controlling civilian gatherings. The plea seeks the "decommissioning or banning" of such projectiles, arguing that their use during crowd management operations can cause serious injuries to civilians. It has also requested exemplary compensation for all people injured in the July 20 police action, along with complete medical care, treatment and rehabilitation measures.
Prashant Kumar, a 25-year-old artist, claimed that he was participating peacefully in the protest when he sustained pellet injuries after personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) allegedly opened fire. He alleged that the action was unprovoked and resulted in injuries despite his participation being peaceful. Another petitioner, 26-year-old Sheikh Irshad Mansoori, stated that he was present at Connaught Place for passport and visa-related work when he was hit by pellets. He claimed that he was not involved in any form of aggression or confrontation during the incident.
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According to the petition, Delhi Police deployed the RAF, a specialised unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), for crowd management during the protest march organised by the Cockroach Janata Party. The march was held over allegations of widespread paper leaks affecting the credibility of India's higher education system. The petitioners claimed that on July 20, between around 4 pm and 4:30 pm, police and RAF personnel allegedly used tear gas shells, carried out lathi charges and pushed protesters towards the inner circle area of Connaught Place.
They alleged that the use of force resulted in injuries to several participants. The Supreme Court petition argues that the use of pellet guns against civilian gatherings raises concerns related to proportionality, safety and the protection of fundamental rights. The petitioners have urged the court to examine whether such weapons should continue to be used by law enforcement agencies during public protests. The plea comes amid long-standing debates over the use of pellet-based weapons by security forces for crowd control.
Critics have raised concerns about the possibility of severe injuries, particularly eye injuries, while authorities have previously defended their use as a non-lethal measure in situations involving public disorder. The Supreme Court's response to the petition will determine whether the matter proceeds for detailed examination. The case also brings renewed attention to the balance between maintaining public order and ensuring that crowd-control measures do not cause excessive harm to civilians.
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