Half the police needed to secure court complex, allege lawyers

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police have done little to improve security in courts despite murders and other criminal incidents reported on court premises, lawyers said.

Lawyers in the Rohini district court told Hindustan Times that police posts on court premises run with half of the sanctioned strength of police personnel. On Monday, the gunman who shot an undertrial at the Rohini court, had managed to sneak in a pistol. Hours after the incident when HT visited the court, there was still no frisking at the gate.

On Monday evening, the incharge of the Rohini court police post was suspended. The local station house officer was also transferred. DCP Rohini Rishi Pal said the security of prisoners is a shared responsibility of the local police and the third battalion unit of the police force.

The court complex has five gates. While the third battalion escorts the prisoners from jail to the court and back, the court gates are secured by the local police. Rohini Court Bar Association president Mahavir Sharma said the number of police officers deployed is not sufficient. “The police post in the court complex has a sanctioned strength of 60. But at any point, there are hardly 30 personnel here,” Sharma said.

Delhi police spokesperson Dependra Pathak said, “Court security is a priority and wherever there is scope for improvement, Delhi police will look into it.”