Chandigarh, September, 2: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the director general of police (DGP), Chandigarh administration, to submit an affidavit detailing the security arrangements for judicial officers posted at the court.
The bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry took the step during suo motu proceedings initiated by the court itself. It noted that the issue came to light during a meeting of the HC building committee on August 4, when concerns were raised about additional district and sessions judges on deputation not receiving assigned security personnel.
According to court proceedings, the senior superintendent of police (security and traffic) informed the committee that a shortage of manpower had affected the provision of security to judicial officers, including High Court judges. Judicial officers are appointed on deputation from Punjab and Haryana, and under the established security protocol, one security personnel is provided by the parent state and another by the Chandigarh administration. Typically, about a dozen officers from the two states are on deputation at the HC at any given time.
The bench observed, “We are of the prima facie view that the matter of safety and security of the judicial officers in the rank of additional district and sessions judge posted on deputation in the registry of the High Court is the responsibility of the UT, Chandigarh administration.”
The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 16 and appointed advocate Ranjit Singh Kalra as amicus curiae to assist in the proceedings.
