Delhi Police defends facial recognition use at NEET-UG protests before Supreme Court

Delhi Police has told the Supreme Court that it used facial recognition technology during the NEET-UG paper-leak protests in Delhi as a “legitimate, bona fide and proportionate policing measure”.

In its affidavit, the force said the system does not automatically create or retain profiles of everyone at a protest site, and is not meant to collect personal information from peaceful protesters unless a person has a previous criminal record. Police said its records cover people accused in serious offences, rather than minor matters such as traffic challans. It said the system identified 2,873 people with serious criminal antecedents; 92 of them were involved in more than 10 cases, including 47 identified as history-sheeters.

The affidavit also defended the police response to the July 20 protests at Jantar Mantar, where the NEET-UG agitation had continued beyond a demonstration initially permitted for June 20. Police said tear-smoke shells were used only as a last resort and that the lathi charge was limited and controlled. It denied using “nail lathis”, manhandling women protesters, and indiscriminate data collection.

The force did not specifically address allegations concerning pellet-gun use. It said allegations against officers would be dealt with before the Supreme Court’s proposed committee examining police use of force. Jantar Mantar remains Delhi’s designated protest stretch, though the court has also sought the city’s response on an alternative protest site.