Aishwarya Rathore-
Published On: October 12, 2021 at 16:50 IST
The Delhi Police filed a reply to a Suo Moto case initiated by the Delhi High Court seeking a security improvement in Delhi Court complexes following the Rohini Court shootout.
ASG Chetan Sharma, appearing for Delhi Police, stated, “I will say this very cautiously. The security issue can get worse with overcrowding. Courts are soft targets. “
Sharma also advised that the use of technology in enhancing security should be maximized.
The submission was made before the Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh who have taken Suo Moto cognizance of the recent gun firing incident inside Rohini Court, Delhi.
The Bench had asked all institutions to submit suggestions to address the issue of security lapses in Courts, particularly in District Courts.
Accordingly, the Delhi Police, the Bar Council of Delhi and the Delhi High Court Bar Association have filed their responses in the matter.
Some of the suggestions are enlisted below:
· The visitors’ entry to court complex must be restricted in general;
· Mechanical scanning of digital ID cards issued to advocates for use in both the High Court and District Courts, similar to the Supreme Court’s proximity cards;
· Separate digital ID cards are issued to Advocates’ clerks;
· All visitors, including Advocate should be frisked with metal detectors;
· Separate dress code for law interns;
· Trial of gangsters be concluded within a fixed time;
· Production of Under Trial Prisoners before the court only by Video Conferencing;
· 3 tier security at Courts viz.: Security at the outer circle, i.e. outside court complexes; Security in the middle circle, i.e. at the Court’s gates; and Security at inner circle, i.e., security personnel in civil dress deployed inside court premises;
· Installation of more CCTV cameras, both outside and inside the Court complexes;
· 24-hour control room to monitor visuals.
Further, Advocate Mohit Mathur, appearing for the Delhi High Court Bar Association, submitted that hawkers and salesmen should not be permitted within Court premises since it creates a significant security lapse.
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