The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government and the city’s Police Commissioner following a plea alleging their failure to formulate a comprehensive mechanism to respond to bomb threats in schools.

Justice Anish Dayal termed the matter “serious” and stressed the urgent need for authorities to act, particularly as incidents of hoax bomb threats have become increasingly frequent—causing distress to students, parents, and educational institutions.

The contempt plea, filed by advocate Arpit Bhargava, claimed that the authorities had failed to comply with the court’s earlier directions issued on November 14, 2024. That order had mandated the formulation of a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) and an action plan within eight weeks to tackle such emergencies. However, the petitioner alleged that no such SOP had been shared or implemented even after the deadline expired on January 14, 2025.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Beenashaw N Soni argued that the government and police had shown “apparent disregard” for the court’s directions, calling their inaction a failure to uphold public interest and safeguard the school community.

“The directions were aimed at ensuring the safety and security of schoolchildren and institutions in the face of bomb threats or similar emergencies,” Soni submitted, further alleging that the authorities' inaction had left schools across the capital vulnerable.

The plea urged the court to initiate coercive measures under the Contempt of Courts Act and impose punitive litigation costs on the erring authorities in favour of the petitioner.

The petition noted that regardless of whether such threats are credible, they instill widespread fear and panic among students, teachers, and parents. The lack of a standardised protocol, it added, puts the safety and mental well-being of lakhs of school-going children at risk.

In its November 2024 order, the court had directed that the SOP must clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all key stakeholders—law enforcement, school managements, and municipal authorities—to ensure coordinated and effective responses.

While the issue of hoax bomb threats is not limited to Delhi or India, and is part of a global trend often involving sophisticated tools like the dark web and VPNs, the plea emphasized that a local, actionable response framework remains critical.

Previously, Delhi Police had informed the court that the capital has five bomb disposal squads and 18 bomb detection teams for over 4,600 schools.

The initial petition was filed by Bhargava in 2023 following a hoax bomb threat at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road.

The court has now scheduled the next hearing for May 19, directing senior government and police officials to remain present for updates on compliance.