New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government and Delhi Police to develop a comprehensive action plan, including a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), for addressing bomb threats and related emergencies in the national capital.
Justice Sanjeev Narula said in the order that the SOP must clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, school management, and municipal authorities, ensuring seamless coordination and implementation.
High Court direction came on plea raising concerns on bomb threats to schools
The High Court’s direction came on a plea filed by lawyer Arpit Bhargava seeking immediate and urgent directions to the Delhi government and Delhi Police to formulate and implement interim measures, in a time bound manner, till adequate SOP/laws/guidelines etc. are prepared to address situations of bomb threats and similar disasters in order to ensure safety and security of children, teachers, staff and other stakeholders of schools in Delhi.
The High Court, while disposing of the plea, directed that the action plan, encompassing the SOP, shall be finalized by the Delhi government and Delhi Police in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including representatives from schools, law enforcement agencies, concerned municipal authorities, and other state departments.
Respondents have already taken initial steps to address concerns, High Court noted
The High Court, while noting that the respondents have already taken initial steps to address these concerns, as reflected in the draft action plans, standing operating procedures, and status reports placed on record, said that it is imperative that these measures are finalized and implemented promptly, rather than remaining confined to a conceptual or deliberative stage.
“The respondents must formulate an effective strategy to address bomb threats and prevent potential disasters, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and through coordinated efforts between various agencies, including law enforcement, municipal authorities, and representative bodies of school administrations,” the High Court said.
What did the petitioner submit?
The petitioner, while raising serious concerns over the alleged inaction and negligent approach of the Delhi government and Delhi Police in addressing the recurring bomb threat emails received by various schools across Delhi, submitted that the failure of the authorities to take adequate and timely measures has jeopardized the safety and security of children, teachers, staff, and other stakeholders in these educational institutions.
“Such incidents, beyond posing a direct risk to life and safety, have caused significant trauma, anxiety, and harassment to students and their families, including the petitioner, whose child is currently enrolled in a school in Delhi,” the petitioner had argued and had specifically highlighted an incident on April 26, 2024, where a bomb threat email targeted his child’s school, causing panic and disruption.
Delhi government, Delhi Police submitted their action taken report on the issue
The High Court had earlier sought the status report the Delhi government and Delhi Police, which had submitted their action taken report on the issue before the court.
Action taken reports lack any evidence of substantive measures being implemented, petitioner argued
The petitioner, however, expressed dissatisfaction, and strongly argued that the action taken reports merely outline proposals and draft plans and they lack any evidence of substantive measures being implemented.
The High Court, while acknowledging petitioner’s concerns raised regarding the safety and security of children in schools, as well as the implications of recurring hoax bomb threats, observed that the petitioner’s expectation that such threats can be entirely eradicated reflects an idealism that is out of step with the realities of the modern world.
Hoax threats not unique to Delhi or even India, they are a global problem: High Court
“Hoax threats, particularly those perpetrated through sophisticated methods such as the dark web and VPNs, are not unique to Delhi or even India. They are a global problem, one that continues to challenge to the law enforcement agencies worldwide. Moreover, law enforcement agencies are tasked not only with investigating incidents but also with anticipating and staying ahead of emerging threats—a formidable challenge in today’s digital age. While there is no doubt that agencies must endeavour to track down and hold perpetrators accountable to the full extent of the law, expecting a foolproof mechanism to entirely prevent such threats is both unrealistic and impractical,” the High Court said.
Respondents must brace themselves to address evolving challenges posed by such threats in digital age: High Court
The High Court further said that the respondents must brace themselves to address the evolving challenges posed by such threats, particularly in the digital age, where anonymity emboldens perpetrators and they must focus on deterrence by demonstrating that such acts will not go unpunished, thereby sending a clear message to potential offenders that their actions will have serious consequences.
“It would reinforce public confidence and dissuade others from engaging in such activities,” the High Court said.
The High Court, however, reiterated that such operational strategies are best left to the wisdom of the executive, as directing such modalities falls outside the court’s remit.
