Judge's Security Breach | Appropriate To Continue With Present Personal Security Detail Provided To Judge: Punjab & Haryana High Court
Aiman J. Chishti
6 Nov 2024 10:02 PM IST
The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed to continue with the present personal security arrangement provided to a sitting High Court judge whose security was compromised in a recent incident. Previously, Court had directed to deploy 3-4 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in his security.
Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal noted that the threat perception report filed by Union Territory, Chandigarh in sealed envelope discloses that stand which is contradictory to the stand of Haryana Government as regards presence or absence of threat perception qua the Judge.
On September 22, a man pulled out the gun of the High Court Judge's Personal Security Officer (PSO) at Golden Temple and ran towards the entrance of the Golden Temple "with possible intent to harm the Judge". His advancement was thwarted by the PSO and in the scuffle that followed, the miscreant shot himself in the head.
After hearing the counsel for the rival parties and perusing the reports of the respective Government, the Court opined that for the time being, it would be appropriate to continue with the present personal security provided to the Judge.
With respect to investigations in the FIR on the shooting incident, the Court noted that Manisha Chaudhary, IPS, AIR/Administration, who is heading the probe informed that "investigation would be completed within four weeks."
The matter is listed for November 25, for further consideration.
Title: Court on its own motion v. State of Punjab and others
Mr. Saurav Khurana, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab & Mr. Anurag Chopra, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab.
Mr. S.P. Jain, Addl. Solicitor General of India, with Mr. Dheeraj Jain, Senior Panel Counsel, UOI.
Mr. Amit Jhanji, Senior Standing Counsel with Mr. J.S. Chandail, Addl. Standing Counsel,
for Union Territory, Chandigarh.
Mr. Pawan Girdhar, Addl. Advocate General, Haryana.
Mr. R.S. Cheema, Senior Advocate, with Mr. A.S. Cheema, Advocate, Mr. Satish Sharma, Advocate,
Mr. Prince Bharol, Mr. Vinod Ghai, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Arnav Ghai, Advocate;Mr. R. S. Rai, Senior Advocate (through video conferencing), with Mr. Anurag Arora, Advocate, and Mr. Arjun S. Rai, Advocate, for Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association, Chandigarh.
