Maintain security strength at 252: HC directs Chief Secretary

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Chennai, Feb 3 (UNI) Madras High Court today directed the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and three others, to maintain the sanctioned strength of 252 police personnel, provided to the High Court, comprising officers and other ranks ranging from constable to Assistant commissioner at all times and also fill up the vacancies within four weeks.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice K Chandru gave the above direction on a writ petition by Registrar General.

In its order, the bench said the Registrar General will indicate a suitable place measuring 4,000 sq.ft for constructing accommodation for the police on High Court campus. The State Government will have to bear the cost.

No security personnel among the 252 shall be deputed for any other work. No diversion of the force will be permitted except with prior permission of Chief Justice. The Chief Secretary and Home Secretary are directed to ascertain number of police personnel required for providing security at the residence of the High Court judges within four weeks and issue an order sanctioning the said strength and report compliance to the High Court within two weeks thereafter, the bench said.

Adequate training shall be given to police deployed in High Court, the bench added.

The petitioner sought to restore the entire sanctioned strength of police personnel in the High Court Police station, to provide adequate security by deputing policemen to the offices of Advocate General, Public Prosecutors and Government Pleader, from outside police stations and instruct suitably the superior police officers concerned not to disturb the police personnel available in the High Court police station during holidays, on the occasion of visits of VVIPs and for other duties outside.

Originally, the Registrar General in a letter dated August 13, and December 29, 2006 to the Home secretary brought to his knowledge certain incidents which had taken place inside the High Court premises which had a bearing on the life and liberty of the citizens approaching the High Court. The actual strength provided for High Court duty are not being maintained and on many occasions they have been sent for outside duty by the superior officers. This letter was treated as a writ petition.

UNI

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