Undertrial killed by inmates: What Delhi High Court has said in the past on security in courts
In 2021, when gangster Jitender Gogi was gunned down in the Rohini court complex allegedly by rivals, the Delhi High Court had initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) on suo motu cognisance. While the PIL continues to be pending before the HC, police has given repeated assurances of heightened security measures each time a shooting incident was reported from a court.
Two assailants, dressed up as lawyers, had shot at Jitender alias Gogi, who was also a high-risk prisoner, in September 2021. Gogi was being produced in court with the police. Responding to the firing, the police fired back at the assailants. The incident left Gogi and the two assailants dead.
Here is an overview of the HC's remarks in recent years on security in courts.
September 2021
A division bench of the High Court, on September 30, 2021, took suo motu cognisance of a firing incident at the Rohini court complex on September 24, 2021, with three lives lost, and recorded that 'there is an imminent and urgent need to take effective measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur' and to ensure 'safety and security' of the 'advocates, litigants, court staff, witnesses as well as the judges and judicial officers.' The court had immediately suggested interim measures such as the deployment of sufficient police personnel in all court complexes, installation of CCTVs at all strategic points for round-the-clock vigilance in district court complexes as well as the High Court complex.
Among other measures, the court suggested the installation of high-tech metal detectors and baggage scanners, provision of UVSS (Under Vehicle Surveillance System), efficient frisking mechanism, regular meetings with stakeholders concerned about the security arrangements, and specialised training for the police personnel deployed at the HC and district court complexes.
It had sought responses from a slew of stakeholders, including the Delhi government, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bar Council of India, the Coordination Committees of all district courts, and the Delhi High Court Bar Association, along with the bar associations of all the district courts.
Subsequently, in October 2021, the Delhi Police had told the HC that security of all seven district courts in the city was taken over by the Security Unit, a specialised unit, and that necessary security arrangements were being made, and more police personnel were being deployed. It had also told the court that it is conducting 'a detailed joint security review of all seven District Courts by seven Security Unit team headed by an Officer at the level of ACP.'
The police had also told the court that it is taking several measures such as deployment of a higher number of security police personnel for access control in all the Courts with extra support by the Central Paramilitary Forces ('CPMF'), apart from measures such as installing different security gadgets such as door frame and hand-held metal detectors, X-ray scanners, CCTVs etc.
In November 2021, the HC had issued directions to the Delhi Police Commissioner to constitute a team of experts to undertake a security audit of complexes of the High Court as well as all the district courts, which would factor in the various factors peculiar to each of the complexes. Based on the audit, the Delhi police chief was also directed to undertake a 'periodical review' of the security arrangements.
The November 24, 2021, order further records that concerning high-risk Under Trial Prisoners (UTPs), 'as far as possible, their appearance may be secured through virtual mode. Wherever or whenever there is a necessity to produce such UTPs, physically abundant care and precautions shall be taken in terms of providing adequate police escort and checking/frisking etc,' adding that 'the directions shall be scrupulously followed by all concerned'.
April 2023
In April 2023, another shooting took place at the Saket District Court complex, where an advocate had shot at a woman and injured her. Taking note of the incident, on April 26, 2023, the HC recorded that 'security personnel deployed in various court premises, including the High Court, are facing some resistance in the matter of frisking and checking of cars.'
The court had then suggested that joint meetings be held between bar associations and senior police officers while counsels for the Delhi government and the union government had assured the court that they would ensure 'proper security arrangements are in place to avoid any such incident in the future.'
July 2023
On July 5, 2023, another firing incident between two groups of lawyers took place at the Tis Hazari court complex.
Taking note of the incident, Delhi Police's Sandeep Byala, DCP, Security Courts, had told HC that frisking of lawyers and litigants and those who are entering the court building is 'being rigorously done in all the court complexes' and at the time, Byala had told HC that the Delhi Police 'is beefing up the security arrangements in all the Court complexes, including the High court of Delhi.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
8 hours ago
- Hans India
HC bars ‘coercive' action against Jagan till July 1
Guntur: Andhra Pradesh High Court restrained police from taking any coercive action against YSRCP chief Y J Jagan Mohan Reddy regarding incidents at Rentapalla on June 18. The court took up hearing on the quash petition filed by Jagan Mohan Reddy in connection with the Rentapalla tour incident . The court raised a serious question, asking how cases can be registered against those inside the car when the incident is related to a road accident. The petition seeks quashing of the FIR registered over the unfortunate death of party worker Cheeli Singaiah. Along with Jagan, other accused in the case have also filed similar petitions. The High Court's interim order provides temporary relief by restraining the police from initiating hasty or vindictive actions until further hearing. The court will resume the hearing of the case on July 1. Meanwhile, Guntur district transport department officials checked vehicle fitness of the AP 40 DH2349 Fortuner Bullet Proof vehicle in Guntur city against the backdrop death of Cheeli Singayya,53, who fell under right side front wheel of the vehicle and died, while Jagan Mohan Reddy was proceeding to Rentapalla village of Palnadu district. Vehicle fitness test was conducted under the aegis of motor vehicle inspector Gangdhar Prasad. They will submit a report to the government. It may be mentioned that the police questioned 18 security personnel who covered Jagan Mohan Reddy's security while he was going to Rentapalla village.
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Time to hit the road: Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara to traffic DCPs
BENGALURU: Traffic DCPs should come out of their office comforts and be on the streets for two hours in the morning and evening, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara has said. 'Specific DCPs have been appointed for the traffic division, but they are not functioning properly. This issue needs more attention,' the minister said at the annual conference of senior police officers in the State Police Headquarters in Bengaluru on Friday. Dr Parameshwara also said that strict action is not being taken against those spreading hate speech and defamatory content on social media. 'Are you unaware of the dangers this has caused? Should we just remain silent while such incidents occur?' he questioned officials, saying that new laws are being introduced to take action against those spreading hate speech and inciting violence. These laws will empower the police to control such incidents more effectively, he added. 'Karnataka currently ranks 15th in the country in terms of crime rate. We must aim to move to the 20th position — the crime rate must come down. Ganja is easily available to college students. It is not enough to just arrest the peddlers — letting off the consumers in these drug cases is not right. If drug abuse is not completely controlled, we will face serious consequences in the future,' he warned. 'In Bengaluru, bike wheeling has become a growing menace. Should the High Court instruct the police to stop this? Youths perform wheelies at 3 am. If this is not controlled, it will become a serious issue,' he warned. He also expressed concern over an increase in illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Karnataka. 'If this is neglected and not brought under control, it will cause major problems. Illegal immigration must be taken seriously,' he said. 'The Communal Violence Control Force has been set up with a good intention. It must be made effective. Police must take keen interest and lead from the front. There must be fear among those inciting communal violence,' he added.
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Bottle buy-back system a failure in Tasmac outlets in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: The operation of unauthorised bars near Tasmac outlets has tied the hands of employees, as they are unable to affix the hologram sticker, which is necessary for the liquor bottle buy-back scheme, implemented by Tasmac after a Madras High Court direction. Sources said almost two-thirds of the 286 bars attached with outlets in the district have been functioning out of contract. A Tasmac outlet supervisor attached to Coimbatore South, who did not wish to be named, said, "Bar contractors can take the bottles to the bar and store them and sell it to anyone. As unauthorised bars cannot store and sell bottles, those should be maintained by employees and handed over to the firm which has got the contract. As most bars attached to outlets in the district are operating without renewing their contract, bottles are not be stored in the bars. That makes employees refrain from sticking the Rs 10 hologram." "Despite not pasting stickers and collecting empty bottles, supervisors of the shops are required to pay Rs 3 per bottle to the contractor, who is supposed to collect empty bottles. Without performing their duty, the private firm receives money from Tasmac, which is borne by employees of the outlets," he added. Officials contact the supervisors and instruct them to clear the total amount, which would come into lakhs each month, leaving the salespersons with no choice, other than to collect an extra of Rs 10 per bottle from customers, he further said. A John, the secretary of Tasmac employees union affiliated to CITU said, "The buy-back system was implemented to prevent disposal of empty bottles in open areas as per the High Court's order. However, the system is not followed in outlets due to structural level failure in the administration. Without correction of flaws, the buy-back system would not attain its objective and salespersons and customers will have to bear the brunt." Speaking to TNIE, R Govindharasu, senior Regional Manager of Tasmac, Coimbatore said, "The buy-back system was implemented partially in the district. We have instructed the employees to follow the norm. I will also look into the matter."
