HC directs govt to prepare action plan to deal with bomb threats in schools

The Delhi High Court in a recent order issued a directive to the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) and the Delhi Police to prepare and implement a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling bomb threats.

The directive follows a petition filed by a parent, Arpit Bhargava, highlighting the trauma and disruption caused by repeated bomb threat emails targeting schools.

The petitioner, whose child experienced a bomb threat incident at their school in April, argued that the authorities had failed to take adequate preventive and remedial measures, leaving schools vulnerable to such crises.

With incidents of hoax bomb threats spreading panic and anxiety among students and parents, the petitioner sought the formulation of a robust action plan to safeguard educational institutions.

Justice Sanjeev Narula, while hearing the matter, noted the increasing frequency of such threats and the psychological impact they have on students and their families.

The court noted the challenges posed by modern technologies, such as VPNs and the dark web, which enable perpetrators to act anonymously.

However, it acknowledged that completely eradicating such threats might be unrealistic. Instead, the court emphasised the importance of implementing comprehensive measures to mitigate risks, deter offenders and ensure public safety.

“Operational strategies are best left to the wisdom of the executive,” remarked Justice Narula, underscoring the necessity for collaborative action among law enforcement, school authorities and other stakeholders.

The court outlined a series of directives to ensure a systematic and effective response to bomb threats. Firstly, the Delhi Government and Delhi Police must create a detailed SOP, specifying roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders, including law enforcement, school management and municipal authorities.

Secondly, the SOP and accompanying action plan must be finalised in consultation with school representatives, police, municipal bodies and relevant state departments.

Thirdly, regular training sessions for school staff, students, and parents shall be conducted to prepare them for potential emergencies. Fourthly, a mechanism should be set up to address concerns and feedback from affected parties, ensuring continuous improvement of the plan. Lastly, timely implementation of SOP and action plan should be finalised and implemented within eight weeks, with dissemination across all schools in Delhi.

While the Delhi Police and GNCTD presented status reports on their existing efforts, including draft action plans and SOPs, the court observed that these remained at a conceptual stage.

The petitioner criticised the lack of tangible implementation, citing recent incidents where over 200 schools were targeted simultaneously, creating widespread panic.