1,900 cops deployed for security of courts, judges in TN

Madurai, Mar 24: A total of 1,900 police personnel had been deployed on security duty for various courts and judicial officers in the state, Tamil Nadu Police told the Madras High Court Bench on Tuesday.

In a report filed on behalf of the Director General of Police in response to a court directive, IGP (Welfare) H M Jayaram said 212 officers had been provided for the high court.

Besides, 207 police personnel, including 68 personal security officers (PSOs) had been deployed at the residences of the Judges. The court had issued the directive while treating as a suo motu public interest litigation a news report on stone-pelting by some miscreants at the house of a district judge in Ramanathapuram on February 18.

A division bench, comprising Justices S. Tamilvanan and V.S. Ravi, had ordered the Home Secretary as well as the DGP to provide adequate security to all judicial officers, especially to those dealing with sensitive cases, in the state.

It had also directed the Home Secretary, the DGP and the Ramanathapuram Superintendent of Police to file a detailed report on the security aspect.

The report said 79 police personnel had been deployed for security in the Madurai bench complex and 87 personnel for the judges. Further, 15 policemen were on bandobust duty. A total of 1,083 police personnel had been deployed for providing security to courts in the state.

PSOs had been provided to district judges and judicial officers handling sensitive cases. Regarding the stone-pelting incident, the DGP report said a 12-year old boy had seen a frog on the compound wall of the house and threw stone at it but it missed the target and hit the window pane accidentally.

The Judge, who suffered a simple injury below his right eye when a splinter hit him, did not want to pursue action as the boy and his parents tendered an apology and considering the education of the boy, his future and the tender age.

On a written request by the judge, the case had been withdrawn, the report added.

PTI