Lawyers want overhaul of court security systems

The security system in courts has to be reviewed thoroughly, feel lawyers.

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s directive to the Centre to take measures to enhance security in courts, lawyers and judges in the city said that the security system in the courts needs to be overhauled.

The Supreme Court had issued the directive after the murder of a witness who refused to turn hostile. He was shot dead while being escorted by the police.

A two-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices S.A. Bobde and L. Nageswara Rao has granted four weeks’ time to the Centre to place on record the steps taken to enhance security in courts.

The bench observed: “We have no doubt that such incidents pose a grave threat to the security of courts and interfere with the administration of justice. It also seriously affects the willingness of witnesses to state the truth.”

While issuing the directive to the Centre, the bench invited suggestions on making the courts secure with the help of the CISF or other agencies. It has also sought the Centre’s response on framing guidelines for witness protection.

Mr Pappu Nageswara Rao, senior criminal lawyer in the city, said, “Having a visible security system with armed guards at strategic points and electronic surveillance would help prevent attacks on court premises.”

Mr S. Pradeep Kumar, a lawyer at the Nampally criminal courts, said that trial courts are more vulnerable to attacks as both the parties involved in the litigation are present. As of now, the city police is taking care of security in the city courts with metal detectors put up at the main entrances.

There are also numerous incidents of parties who are involved in matrimonial disputes end up attacking each other in the court premises.

Mr Kumar recalled two incidents where the accused were attacked in the courts. In one case, an accused was brutally murdered in the Ranga Reddy Court complex at LB Nagar in 2005. Another accused was killed 200 meters away from the main gate of the Nampally Court in 2010.