SC irked over lack of police protection for sealing teams
NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took a grim view of the monitoring committee’s complaint that it was not being provided with adequate police protection during sealing drives and summoned the police commissioner for an explanation. The summon was later withdrawn after additional solicitor general told the court that he had spoken to the police commissioner on the issue and had been assured that all security arrangements would be made.
Earlier, a bench of justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta said the court was concerned when advocate ADN Rao, assisting the bench in sealing case, placed the monitoring committee’s latest report that gave a detailed account of how the panel members have been attacked by traders and their supporters.
“When they attack the monitoring committee members, they are actually beating or hurting the Supreme Court. The sealing action is at the instance of the top court. This is a serious matter and you must instruct that all the officers (police) must cooperate,” the bench told advocate Wasim Qadri, who was present in the court on behalf of the Centre. The bench then asked for commissioner’s presence on Thursday.
However, later additional solicitor general AS Nadkarni, appeared and informed the court that he had personally spoken with the commissioner who was told that not providing police
COURT SUMMONED THE POLICE COMMISSIONER, BUT LATER WITHDREW IT AFTER BEING ASSURED THAT POLICE SECURITY WILL BE PROVIDED
force to the monitoring committee would invite contempt action. The bench then withdrew its summons and said that it will take up the matter on April 16.
Rao told the bench that on 24 occasions they have not received any help from the police. According to him, the monitoring committee send its request in advance to a special OSD, appointed by the police to communicate with the panel. Yet, the committee is made to wait before the local SHO decides not to give them police protection.
“The implementation at the SHO level is not taking place,” Rao said. As a result of no police force, the monitoring committee often returns from the site without carrying out the task entrusted to them by the SC. “We engage labour and end up paying them for not doing any work,” he said.
On March 8, police resorted to lathicharge to disperse traders in Amar Colony and Lajpat Nagar, who were protesting the sealing drive. The Sc-appointed monitoring committee had sealed around 350 shops and establishments in Amar Colony’s Old Double Storey area, prompting traders to spill on the Ring Road to protest. The SDMC officials had then alleged that the police force was insufficient leading to protesters turning violent. The officials had threatened not to continue the sealing if they were not provided paramilitary personnel to protect them from the traders.