Delhi Police unveil plan to enhance security at courts
DELHI POLICE COMMISSIONER RAKESH ASTHANA SAID DEPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL AND NUMBER OF CCTVS WILL BE ENHANCED AT ALL SEVEN DISTRICT COURTS
NEW DELHI: Security at Delhi’s seven district courts will be upgraded on par with that of the Delhi high court, Delhi Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana said on Tuesday, announcing a slew of measures such as deploying paramilitary personnel and regular security audits to enhance safety.
The decision to upgrade the security at the seven courts -- Tis Hazari, Rouse Avenue, Karkardooma, Rohini, Saket, Patiala House and Dwarka -- comes following a sensational shootout inside a courtroom at Rohini district cout on Friday in which notorious gangster Jitender Maan alias Gogi was killed. The police gunned down the two shooters who came in a lawyer’s attire to gain entry into the court.
Asthana said deployment of security personnel will be increased both inside and outside court. “The ratio of policemen deployed on the premises will be increased in proportion with the number of visitors. We will also deploy adequate paramilitary personnel, which we get for different purposes from the
Centre, for security at the courts. Now, all the deployment of forces will be decided by the security cell of the police headquarters. Our officials are already on the job to determine what level of security will be needed for the district courts. The method of frisking and issuing entry passes will be made stringent like the high court,” he said.
Asthana added a Protection Review Group (PRG) will be constituted to review the security arrangements for district and subordinate courts, as well as judges. “The security measures will be reviewed regularly by PRG members. We will also regularly audit security at these courts. During reviews, the requisition of manpower and equipment will be checked. This will help the police in modifying the security measures as per emerging needs,” Asthana said.
Asthana, who visited the Rohini court on Sunday and talked to the security personnel there, said the Delhi Police has planned to install more CCTV cameras, both inside and outside the court premises. “So far, the Delhi Police could only install CCTV cameras outside the court premises, and the court management arranged cameras inside the premises. We have informally consulted judicial officers and different district bar associations in this connection, and hope that they will approve the police handling on-premises cameras too,” he said.
The police commissioner added that additional measures and stricter monitoring will done during the court visits of “high target” prisoners. “We have requested the district courts to prefer hearings through video-conferencing for such prisoners,” he said.
Following the shootout on Friday, many advocate groups met Delhi Police officers and demanded enhanced security at the court premises.
Mrityunjai Singh, a lawyer who practices at Karkardooma court, said in the recent times, the district courts have become a ‘good’ place for the undertrials. “They mingle with their friends and families without any restrictions. Unlike the high court, district courts are not provided with the same level of security. It’s easy for them to give a slip to the authorities,” he said.
In contrast, entry inside the high court is allowed only when a person produces a valid visiting card. To enter the courtrooms, the visitors (barring police, lawyers and court staff) must get a pass issued before entering the court room.
Welcoming the move, Rakesh Sehrawat, chairman of Bar Council of Delhi, said it is important to tighten security at the district courts.
“Friday’s incident was shocking for the whole Delhi. We’ve met the police chief in this connection and he has assured us about deployment of more police forces. He has also assured that the best quality of metal detectors will be installed in the court premises. It will definitely ensure security to the judges, magistrates, lawyers, visitors and prisoners,” he said.