The Delhi High Court has sought a response from both the Delhi Government and Delhi Police regarding the designated nodal officers responsible for addressing bomb threats in schools. Additionally, the court seeks information on the frequency of mock drills conducted in schools to ensure smooth evacuation procedures for children in case of emergencies, aiming to maintain calm and safety.

Justice Subramonium Prasad has directed the authorities to provide details on the number of schools in each zone, as well as the anticipated response time for nodal officers in the event of a bomb threat. This inquiry aims to ensure swift and efficient actions to safeguard the safety and well-being of students and staff in schools across the region.

The court has instructed the authorities to submit the affidavit within a timeframe of 10 days, which should include details regarding various circulars issued by the Delhi Government pertaining to the issue over time. Additionally, the Delhi Police has been specifically tasked with outlining the measures taken to investigate hoax calls received by schools. This directive underscores the court's commitment to ensuring comprehensive and effective protocols for handling security threats within educational institutions.

The court was addressing a plea brought forth by Advocate Arpit Bhargava, which sought the formulation of a comprehensive action plan to address bomb threats in schools within the national capital, with the overarching goal of ensuring the safety and security of children, teachers, and staff. Bhargava argued that the absence of such a plan leaves individuals vulnerable to potential crises that could have far-reaching consequences for families and communities. This plea underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the risks associated with such threats and to safeguard the well-being of all stakeholders involved in the education system.

Bhargava's counsel highlighted a recent incident where several schools in Delhi received hoax emails regarding bomb threats. They emphasized that such incidents impact the entire city, as nearly every household in Delhi has at least one child attending school. This underscores the widespread concern and potential consequences of security threats within educational institutions, emphasizing the need for effective action to address these issues and ensure the safety of students and the community at large.

During the proceedings, Delhi Government's counsel, Santosh Kumar Tripathi, informed the court that the Delhi Police had submitted an affidavit affirming the existence of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for addressing both hoax and genuine bomb threat calls. Tripathi explained that given the considerable number of approximately 5,500 schools in the national capital, it is impractical to deploy police personnel at each individual school. This statement underscores the logistical challenges involved in ensuring comprehensive security coverage across all educational institutions, despite efforts to establish procedural frameworks for responding to potential threats.

Tripathi elaborated that according to the SOP, the initial action upon receiving a bomb threat is for the school to promptly notify the police, followed by the evacuation of children. However, the court observed that the SOP provided by the Delhi Police appears to be generic and lacks a specialized protocol specifically tailored for schools in the national capital. This observation suggests a need for more tailored and comprehensive guidelines to address the unique security challenges faced by educational institutions, highlighting the importance of a nuanced approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of students, teachers, and staff.

In response to the court's inquiry, an officer from the Delhi Government's Directorate of Education confirmed that schools are instructed to conduct regular mock drills to prepare for handling emergency situations, including bomb threats. Additionally, schools are required to submit an action taken report following each drill. The officer further informed the court that mock drills are indeed being conducted regularly in schools, and each school has developed an evacuation plan.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 16. 

Case Title: ARPIT BHARGAVA v. GNCTD & ANR.