HC asks Delhi Police to file fresh status report on beefed up security in courts

New Delhi (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the city police to submit a fresh status report on the issue of beefing up security in courts here.

Presiding over the matter, a bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma made it clear that the latest status report should be based on the recommendations and steps suggested and implemented as per a joint meeting held recently by all the stakeholders.

In April, the High Court had asked senior officers of the Delhi Police and bar associations to suggest measures to strengthen security at courts here.

The bench was hearing several petitions seeking stricter security measures in the lower courts and suo motu case initiated after a similar incident at Rohini Court in 2021.

In the series of shootings in Delhi courts, a recent incident which took place at Tis Hazari court complex on July 5 has created fear among the court-goers.

In April, a suspended lawyer shot a woman inside the Saket court.

During the hearing on Monday, the bench, also comprising Justice Sanjiv Narula, took note of the status report of the Delhi Police, which stated that on May 6, members of the Bar Council of Delhi, bar associations of all courts, senior police officers A joint meeting was held with From Security Unit and District Traffic Unit.

The court noted that certain decisions were taken in the meeting and the President of the Delhi High Court Bar Association was informed about the measures to be taken to strengthen the security arrangements at the High Court.

The status report further states that regular meetings are being held with the Building Maintenance Committee, Security Cell of the concerned courts and other stakeholders to discuss the security issues regarding the implementation of the directions issued by the court in the matter of security in the courts .

The court has now fixed the matter for next hearing on October 9.

In September last year, the court had sought a fresh status report from its administrative side on a PIL filed in July 2019.

Advocate Kunwar Gangesh Singh had filed a PIL seeking directions to increase the security arrangements of various district courts across the city.

The court had then issued directions relating to the security of the court premises and review and improvement of its security arrangements in December 2021.