Threat letter: Supreme Court curbs visitors' entry in high security zone

New Delhi, Aug 18: In the wake of heightened threat perception, the Supreme Court has curtailed the entry of visitors including law interns in the high security complex and requested advocates to be extra-cautious of any suspicious activity within its premises.

The directions came after Delhi Police received an anonymous email yesterday threatening a bomb attack on the Supreme Court, days after a death threat was made against apex court judge Justice Dipak Misra, following which security was beefed up in and around the premises of the apex court.

A circular which has been issued by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) said, "In view of the escalated threat perception being faced by the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of India has sought to curtail/limit the number of visitors in the high security zone and proposed to completely stop the entry of interns/law students and visitors for the purpose of consultation, inside the high security zone."

Aishwarya Bhati, Secretary of SCBA, said that during a meeting held at the residence of Chief Justice H L Dattu last evening, it was decided that due to the "supervening and compelling circumstances", it was necessary to take these measures to ensure stronger safety of the apex court.

Cautioning the members of the Bar, the circular said, "Members are requested to be extra cautious and report any suspicious activity/article immediately to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Supreme Court Security."

It also asked the bar members to be "very careful and discerning" before issuing pass slips to clients or visitors and not leave it to be given out by their office or clerks to avoid any possibility of misuse.

The circular, however, said that to avoid any hardship to members, "no fee will be levied on them for the first half an hour for the consultation rooms or cubicles in two Chamber Blocks, for a period of one month."

Earlier, Justice Dipak Misra, one of the three Supreme Court judges who had turned down the final plea against hanging of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon, had received a threat letter, after which his security was enhanced.

PTI