The Supreme Court has sought a response from the central government on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing the use of pellet guns during crowd-control situations. The court’s direction came during the first hearing of a petition seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns. The plea was filed by former IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad along with two students who claim they were injured during the protest. While the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to explain the guidelines and procedures followed for deploying pellet guns, it has not indicated any immediate order to stop their use. The court will examine the existing SOP and consider the government’s response regarding the circumstances under which pellet guns are permitted. The issue has gained political attention following allegations of pellet gun use during a student protest, with opposition parties demanding accountability. The hearing marks the beginning of judicial scrutiny into the rules and safeguards surrounding the use of pellet guns by security forces.

