Court Security: Delhi High Court Grants Last Opportunity To All Stakeholders To File Suggestions By Oct 29

While posting the matter for orders on November 8, the Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh made it clear that no further time will be given for filing of suggestions.

The case for security at court premises was registered suo moto following the gun firing incident at Rohini District Court last month.

"This is a grave matter and requires immediate attention," the Chief Justice had earlier observed while asking the stakeholders to come up with suggestions, so as to address the issue of security lapse in courts, especially the District Courts.

Accordingly, the Delhi Police, the Bar Council of Delhi and the Delhi High Court Bar Association had filed their replies in the matter. Their suggestions may be read here.

Today, ASG Chetan Sharma appearing for the Delhi Police submitted that the agency has taken certain crucial and substantive steps to improve security measures.

After conducting security audits at all the seven courts, ASG Sharma said, the following steps have been taken:

• Standing orders issued by Delhi Police for managing security;
• 85 door metals installed at various courts;
• 125 hand-held detectors supplied in all seven courts;
• Physical checking points in every court covered and secured;
• Tender issued for procuring adequate Scanner x-ray machines
• Existing inoperable scanners repaired;
• Sufficient manpower with paramilitary support deployed;
• Inspector in charge, DCPs etc. placed for all courts exclusively;
• 2,300 CCTVs, 300 Police personnel in service.

ASG Sharma however submitted that client parking is still an issue.

The Bench was also informed that residents of the Saket area encroach upon the Court's underground parking during night and early morning hours, leading to a potential security lapse. 

The Court has now granted last opportunity to all stakeholders to file their replies, following a request made Advocate KC Mittal, who sought to file suggestions on behalf of the Delhi Bar Association (Tis Hazari).

Case Title: Court on its own motion v. Commissioner of Police & Ors.