Court Directs Preservation of R.A.F. Weapon Records from Jantra‑Mantar Demonstration

In a landmark observation, the Supreme Court ordered that a complete log of the weapons and ammunition used by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) on July 20 be retained by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The bench emphasized that accurate documentation is essential for accountability and future judicial scrutiny.

The directive applies to all firearms, ammunition, and non‑lethal devices, including the pellet guns that injured several protestors. The Court also instructed that the records be stored in a tamper‑proof format, accessible to any future inquiry.

Legal experts view this as a step toward greater transparency in the handling of crowd‑control measures, especially after allegations that the use of pellet guns violated international human‑rights standards.

The preservation order complements other orders that mandate medical treatment for the injured and a review of the operational guidelines governing the use of such weapons.