The Delhi High Court, convening on Monday, issued directives to the city police, urging them to furnish comprehensive details regarding the measures in place for ensuring the safe evacuation of school children in the event of bomb threats. Emphasizing the imperative of minimizing dependence on parents and averting any ensuing panic, the court mandated the submission of specific data pertaining to the number of schools situated within each zone, the designated nodal authorities responsible for prompt action upon receiving threats, the anticipated response time, and the frequency of mock drills conducted under the supervision of law enforcement and other relevant departments.

Justice Subramonium Prasad, presiding over the proceedings, expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of crucial information in the status report submitted by the Delhi Police. While acknowledging the presence of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for bomb detection and disposal squads, the court underscored the need for further elucidation on various critical aspects.

The affidavits, to be filed by both the city police and the government within a stipulated period of 10 days, were instructed to include detailed accounts of initiatives undertaken to reduce parental involvement in evacuation procedures, particularly considering instances where parents may be geographically distant. Additionally, the court mandated the inclusion of information regarding pertinent circulars issued by the Delhi government over time.

The ongoing legal proceedings were prompted by concerns raised in a petition, originally filed in 2023 by Arpit Bhargava, a legal practitioner, following a hoax bomb threat targeting Delhi Public School (DPS) on Mathura Road. Amidst deliberations, advocate Beenashaw Soni, representing the petitioner, highlighted a recent incident wherein approximately 200 schools across the Delhi-NCR region received a hoax bomb threat via email, underscoring the logistical challenges faced by law enforcement in promptly addressing such widespread threats.

The deliberations also revealed discrepancies regarding the frequency of mock drills conducted in schools, with the petitioner disputing claims made by the government counsel and court officials expressing skepticism. The Director of Education, present during the proceedings, reiterated the department’s commitment to ensuring school safety and emphasized the implementation of stringent guidelines to address potential threats, including bomb threats.

In response to queries from the bench, the Delhi government, represented by standing counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi, reassured the court that schools had been apprised of disaster management protocols, which encompassed procedures for handling bomb threats. However, the court, noting the generalized nature of the existing SOPs, emphasized the necessity for tailor-made protocols specifically addressing the unique challenges posed by bomb threats in educational institutions.

Source: PTI

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