Continue security arrangements in the district courts, HC asks police

New Delhi: Delhi High Court has asked police to continue with the present security arrangements in the district courts of the capital and regularly review them in consultation with the district judges concerned.

The direction was passed by a special bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and justices V Kameswar Rao with Nitin Sambre, while dealing with a suo motu case initiated by the high court in connection with an alleged attack on a lawyer by his opposing counsel inside a courtroom in Tis Hazari earlier this year.

During the hearing on Thursday, the counsel for Delhi Police said the investigation into the FIRs arising from the incident was complete and a chargesheet was likely to be filed in the trial court soon.

The high court was also informed that adequate police personnel have been deployed in the district courts and that police authorities have reviewed the ‘bandobast’ in each district, following deliberations with all stakeholders including the judiciary.

The bench noted that keeping the matter pending would serve no purpose and disposed of the petition.

“We direct that the security ‘bandobast’ which has been put in place in each of the district courts will continue and shall be reviewed on a regular basis by the police authorities in consultation with the respective principal and district judge,” the court ordered.

It ended the matter which was registered as suo motu on Feb 9 where the bench had also sought a report on the alleged attack, observing that the lawyer was said to have been “beaten and heckled” by the opposing counsel on Feb 7 while the courtroom door was bolted from inside even as a hearing was underway.

The case was heard after the Supreme Court asked the aggrieved lawyer to approach the high court.

Delhi Police counsel earlier said the agency received two rival complaints in relation to the incident, and the process of registration of FIR had been initiated.

He assured that an investigation shall be done after the registration of the FIR under BNS sections and a report shall be given to the court.