Delhi HC asks police to place on record meeting details on judges’ security plea
New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi Police to place on record the minutes of a meeting held to discuss security arrangements for judicial officers in the national capital.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain, hearing a plea seeking enhanced protection for judges at their residences, ordered the Delhi Police to file an affidavit along with the minutes of the meeting convened pursuant to the court’s earlier direction.
During the hearing, Justice Jain was informed that a meeting involving officials of the Delhi government, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Delhi Police had already been held, but the minutes of the deliberations had not yet been filed before the Delhi High Court.
The matter pertains to a petition filed by the Judicial Service Association of Delhi seeking the appointment of personal security officers (PSOs) and additional security arrangements for judges at their residences.
Questioning the city Police’s stand, the Delhi High Court asked whether it was not possible to provide security cover to all judicial officers.
In response, counsel for the Delhi Police submitted that security arrangements are determined on the basis of ‘threat perception’ and that, at present, 12 judges have been provided security after an assessment of potential threats.
Observing that security would naturally be extended wherever there is a threat perception, the Delhi High Court said the larger issue was whether the demand raised by judicial officers for regular security arrangements was legitimate and whether such protection ought to be granted as a matter of policy.
“That you will, in any case, provide if there is a threat perception. That goes without saying. The question is whether the demand is legitimate. Whether they need to be given, ought to be given,” Justice Jain orally remarked.
The Delhi Police also informed that meetings had been conducted by the Delhi High Court Registrar and other concerned authorities regarding the issue.
However, Justice Jain observed that the deliberations were not available on record and directed that the complete proceedings of the meeting be filed on the next date of hearing.
“We don’t know what has transpired. If the meeting is over, place everything on record. We will consider it on the next date,” the judge said.
The Delhi High Court has now listed the matter for further hearing on July 7. The petitioners have contended that judicial officers often handle sensitive matters and issue orders in high-profile cases, necessitating adequate security at their residences.
–IANS
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