Allahabad HC Passes Slew Of Directions For Increasing Security In Courts [Read Order]

"…matter of security is under consideration for the last more than 10 years and umpteen meetings have been held from time to time but still no effective progress; security arrangement are almost negligible; progress is highly unsatisfactory and at ground level due to lack of effective security, incidents in Court campuses are happening from time to time. In the recent incident, in Court room itself, criminals have dared to commit double murder. We are constrained to record our serious dissatisfaction to the situation," the high court said.

On December 18, 2019, the bench of Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Suneet Kumar had taken suo moto cognizance of the shocking incident where three men began to open fire inside a courtroom in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, killing one and injuring several.

On December 20, 2019, the high court was informed that steps had been taken by district authorities to ensure security in Court campuses, however, Advocates were not cooperating and often there were altercations between Advocates and Security Personnel.

On this aspect, the President of HCBA Rakesh Pandey had assured their cooperation and the Bar Council had assured that it will issue a circular/letter to all Bar Associations in the State, requesting its members to cooperate with System for observing proper security in District Judgeship.

During the course of hearing, the high court was also informed that many district courts did not even have boundary walls and some did not have official premises.

"There are 86 Outlying Courts in State of U. P. whereagainst only 52 have own campus. Out of 75 District Headquarters, at only 29 places, boundary walls are complete as per standards, and in 38 districts, construction work is still going on," the court recorded.

The court was further appraised that while CCTV cameras had been installed in a few courts, they were not properly functional.

Accordingly, the court had directed posting of special trained force in court compounds, reactivation of CCTV footage, making of boundary walls in all courts and not allowing lawyers and litigants without valid identity card, vide a detailed order passed on December 20, 2019.

On the latest hearing held on January 2, the court took on record the compliance reports filed on behalf of concerned authorities. The Chief Secretary of the State had filed a report whereby particulars regarding construction and completion of boundary walls and acquisition of land for dedicated court premises were detailed.

Similarly, the report filed by Additional Chief Secretary of the State mentioned steps taken with regards the installation of CCTV cameras. The government has constituted a Technical Committee and a committee at Zonal level, for conducting technical inspection of CCTV cameras and other security equipments.

In addition to infrastructural enhancement, the State has proposed to establish Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force so as to entrust duty to maintain security of the high court at Allahabad and Lucknow, all District Judgeships and other Courts notified by State Government.

With regard to preparation of Biometric Identity Cards, Gate Admission and Access Cards, the State undertook to submit a detailed proposal with financial implications within one month.

The court also sought requisite information from District Judges in connection with security arrangement in District Judgeship as desired by District Officials or State Government Officials. It further issued the following directions:

1. Boundary walls in all District Judgeships except Bhadohi, Sultanpur, Meerut, Chitrakoot, Hathras and Sambhal shall be completed by January 31, 2020.
2. Steps for preparation of Advocates' Roll in the same manner, as was prepared in the High Court, shall be initiated by District Judges concerned and process shall be completed by February 15, 2020.
3. District Judges shall issue a public notice to Advocates and their Clerks to get prepared an Identity Card, to be issued under the signature of concerned District Judge, valid for five years and renewable thereafter, by February 15, 2020.
4. The Advocate's Clerks shall carry a Certificate of Association with concerned Advocate, giving details of Advocate's name, his enrollment number in Bar Council etc., and production of Identity Card, like, Aadhar Card or Pan Card or Driving Licence carrying his photo.
5. The system of issue of Gate Pass to litigants, in consultation 21 with Registrar General, shall be installed, in the manner similar to system available in this Court, by February 15, 2020.
6. For the time being, four wheeler and two wheeler vehicles of Advocates and their authorized Clerks may be allowed to enter Court premises, if no parking arrangement has been made outside the Court premises. But for that purpose, they shall apply and obtain a Pass issued by District Judge concerned, by February 15, 2020.
7. No person including Advocates, their Clerks and litigants shall be allowed to enter Court premises carrying any weapon. If any person is found with weapon, the matter shall immediately be reported giving details of such person to District Judge as also to Registrar General of this Court. This direction would not apply to security personnel deputed in Court premises as also Police personnel on duty, accompanying accused persons coming to Court to attend their cases.

The matter will now be taken up on January 17, 2020.

Click Here To Download Order Dated December 20

Click Here To Download Order Dated January 2

Read Order Dated December 20

Read Order Dated January 2