The Madras High Court on Friday, 31 January, called upon the court’s Security Commission to review security arrangements at its premises following a peace march on 29 January. The peace march to commemorate Martyr’s Day carried out by lawyers and three former Justices of the Madras High Court was termed ‘unfortunate’ by the court.
The Security Committee was asked to coordinate with the Director-General of Police, Tamil Nadu as well as top officials of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The court took a serious view of the incident even as Justice Subramonium Prasad was hearing suo-moto a writ petition pertaining to common security arrangements for premises in and around the High Court.
Noting that the Supreme Court is already considering the proposal to deploy paramilitary force in high courts around the country, the court referred to a letter from Deputy Commissioner of Police, High Court Security.
The letter stated that senior advocates and three former Justices of the Madras High Court – Hariparanthaman, Kannan and Akbar – had walked in procession to North Gate, and proceeded to enter the court, ending their march at the Ambedkar statue in its premises.
‘Immediate Concern to Be Taken Up on the Administrative Side’: Court
The letter alleged, “They were stopped and advised for their unauthorised activities. But they refused to hear the Police Officers who were on duty.”
“Having noticed the said incident reported, what is of more of concern is that the incident involves and names three former High Court Judges of having entered the premises and joined the protest that was going on.”Madras High Court
Asserting that the incident requires 'immediate concern to be taken up on the administrative side', the court further said, “The gravity of the said incident, therefore, puts on guard the entire judicial system, as this may have a large impact on the future security measures that may be required to be undertaken by the High Court.”
The court requested the Security Committee of the High Court to “take up the matter urgently along with its suggestions and report the matter back for taking appropriate action on the judicial side or otherwise by the next date fixed.”
‘Don’t Report Anything Beyond the Order’
The court recorded the Advocate General's submission that with 500 chambers of lawyers on campus, adjustments may have to be made for their clients.
It is also noted the Additional Solicitor General of India's submission that CISF security measures have not been standardised on 'account of two zones of operation within the premises'.
“The coordination, therefore, is lacking and the same standard not being deployed may be a cause of concern in future. He, therefore, submits that the operational systems to be followed have to be synchronised in a manner that the security of the entire premises, keeping in view the threat perceptions that keep on arising and taking into concern such other incidents, have to be standardised.”Madras High Court
Significantly, the court 'instructed' reporting agencies in its orders on Friday ‘not to report anything beyond what is recorded in the order, so as to create any misconception or confusion.’
(This story was first published in The News Minute. It has republished with permission.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)