The Delhi High Court directed officials from the Union MHA, Delhi government and Delhi Police to meet within a week to review security for district court judges, with Justice Manoj Jain stressing the issue’s seriousness and urgent need for action.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court ordered senior officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Delhi government and the Delhi Police to meet within a week to consider security arrangements for district court judges.
Justice Manoj Jain stressed the significance of the matter, saying that security for trial court judges is of paramount importance and requires action.
The Court observed,
“The issue is important. I am with you on that…The severity of the grievance raised in the petition cannot be undermined from any angle whatsoever,”
The Court directed that a report following the meeting be filed within two weeks.
The Court ordered,
“Let a meeting in this regard take place between the competent senior official of the GNCTD, MHA and Police so that a report in this regard be filed by the next date of hearing. Let such a meeting be held in a week,”
The Court also instructed that the meeting should include inquiries into whether other states have implemented security measures for judicial officers.
The order came on a petition filed by the Judicial Service Association of Delhi, which represents trial-court judges. The association sought directions for provision of personal security officers (PSOs) to district judges and for ensuring adequate security at their homes.
The petition noted that many judicial officers commute in their own vehicles and have been subject to stalking, threats and road rage. It also pointed out that some judges handle multiple criminal cases involving gang violence and that there have been incidents of shootings at court premises.
Senior Advocate Kirti Uppal, representing the judges’ association, said numerous judges face threats and stalking.
He informed the Bench,
“There was one instance where a lady judge was told, ‘Kam bolo agar jeena hai to (speak less if you want to stay alive),'”
Uppal added that states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat have already made security provisions for judicial officers.
Standing Counsel (Criminal) Sanjay Lao, appearing for the Delhi government, said a decision would be taken on the “important” issue.
The High Court noted that the judges’ association had also submitted a representation to the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court, but the Court was unaware of its current status.
Accordingly, the Court directed the petitioner to implead the High Court Registrar General as a party and asked the Registrar General to file a report on the status of that representation.
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