Notices issued on PIL seeking guidelines for escort staff

Chandigarh, Dec 12 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notices to Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Administration for January 11 on a PIL seeking directions to issue proper guidelines to its security and escort staff who, while on duty of the VIPs cause avoidable hardship on the general public.

The petitioner, senior advocate Santosh Aggarwal also sought creation of a central authority to oversee the functioning of those involved in escort and security duties of high ups, though in the first instance the entire matter needed to be reviewed to set priorities in line with the need of the changing times.

It was pointed out by the petitioner that such escort and security staff and the accompanying road rage was relevant in times of militancy but to continue with the same fashion was pushing the public into undue problems which often resulted in increasing incidents of misbehaviour on road.

The staff on such duties often hit people and vehicles with sticks as the official vehicles pass, which was highly reprehensible and amounted to an insult of the individual so treated.

The petitioner has incorporated in the PIL a draft of proposed guidelines, which also included creation of a separate cadre for those engaged in escort and security duties, while the central authority overseeing its functioning to have, among others, the district and sessions judge of the concerned district.

He also emphasised that the staff uniform should disclose the identity of the personnel and strict measures should be devised against misbehavuour with the public.

UNI XC DP AKJ BD2123