The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government and the Commissioner of Delhi Police in a contempt petition alleging non-compliance with the court’s earlier directive to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) to tackle bomb threats in schools.
Justice Anish Dayal, while hearing the matter, termed the issue “serious” and observed that repeated hoax threats were causing distress to school children, parents, and institutions. He emphasized that such matters required “urgent attention” from the authorities.
The contempt plea, filed by advocate Arpit Bhargava, pointed to the alleged failure of both the Delhi government and Delhi Police to formulate a detailed response mechanism despite the court’s order dated November 14, 2024. The High Court had then granted eight weeks for the formulation of an SOP and comprehensive action plan, a deadline that expired on January 14, 2025.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Beenashaw N. Soni submitted that the authorities had displayed an “apparent disregard” for the court’s orders and were negligent in safeguarding public interest. She argued that the continuing failure to act had left the school ecosystem vulnerable to panic and disruption caused by hoax bomb threats.
“These threats, regardless of their authenticity, foster fear and anxiety among school children, parents and staff,” the petition stated, highlighting the psychological impact and the disruption of learning environments. The lack of a standardized response, the plea contended, “directly endangers the safety and mental health of lakhs of children in Delhi.”
The court was also informed that Delhi has over 4,600 schools, but the police only have five bomb disposal squads and 18 bomb detection teams — inadequate infrastructure in the face of rising threats.
The original petition was moved in 2023 after a bomb threat was received by Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. Since then, several schools have received similar threats, many of which were later identified as hoaxes — often traced to sources on the dark web or routed through VPNs.
In its earlier order, the court had directed that the SOP should clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, school administrations, and municipal bodies, to ensure seamless coordination and swift response during emergencies.
Taking note of the alleged non-compliance, the court has now directed the concerned officials to be present for the next hearing on May 19, 2025. It also sought a status report on the progress made in implementing the SOP and action plan.
