NationalTuesday, 11 August 2026·The Hindu - National
Supreme Court on pellet guns: exceptional circumstances, graded police response and July 20 protest case
In July 2026, the Supreme Court said pellet guns may be used in exceptional circumstances as part of a graded police response.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On July 30, 2026, a three-judge Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the use of pellet guns in “exceptional circumstances” could form part of a graded police response to civilian protests.
Key specifics
- The Bench was headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant in July 2026.
- Justice Joymalya Bagchi said pellet guns may be used in “exceptional circumstances”.
- The petition was filed by former IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad and two pellet injury victims, Prashant Kumar Singh and Shekh Irshad Mansoori.
- The hearing referred to a July 20, 2026 police action at Jantar Mantar involving protestors.
- The court asked the petitioners to challenge the rules and sought standard regulations or protocol from the Centre and Delhi Police.
Exam lens
Question type: Polity and judiciary current affairs, Supreme Court, graded response, pellet guns, Jantar Mantar, July 30, 2026; TNPSC may ask which court discussed crowd-control weapons and what “exceptional circumstances” means in police rules.