Adequate security being provided:HC closes Jaya's petition

Chennai, Nov 27 (UNI) Madras High Court today held that no further orders were required to be passed regarding the security being provided by Tamil Nadu government to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Closing a memo filed by Ms Jayalalithaa, Justice M Jaichandran said the court called for relevant records from the state government and had perused the same. The records placed before the court show that the state government has been complying with the directions issued by the court in its orders dated June 9,2008 and July 16,2006, on the security to be provided to her, the Judge added.

On behalf of the government, The Advocate General(AG),G Masilamani submitted that the orders passed by the court were fully complied with and the authorities concerned have been taking necessary steps to provide adequate security to the former Chief Minister, both at her residence and during travel to other places.

He submitted that as per the directionos of the court, A T Durai Kumar, Superintendent of Police, SB-CID in Chennai, had met the former Chief Minister at her residence at Poes Garden on August 20, and informed the Security Review Committee that during the meeting Ms Jayalalithaa had handed him a letter addressed to him and had stated that the required security measures had been mentioned in the letter. She had also stated that the letter may be placed before the Committee.

The AG further stated that Ms Jayalalithaa was provided with 'Z Plus' category of security with NSG cover, based on threat perception from millitant and terrorist organisations, assessed by the various agencies like SIB 'Q' Branch,Special Division, Special Branch and local police. Various security arrangements had also been made based on the decisions of the Security Review Committee.

''Further, all necessary steps were being taken to provide adequate security to her, as per the prevailing threat perception.It has also been stated that as and when it found that increased security was to be provided depending on the threat perception, necessary arrangements would be made to provide adequate security to Ms Jayalalithaa'', he contended.

The Judge then treated the petition as closed.

UNI XR VV RSA VC1920