Security for retd CJ,judges

SHILLONG, JAN 7: Meghalaya high court Thursday directed that security be provided to the Chief Justice and the judges after they retire from office.

In its order issued on Thursday, the division bench headed by the chief justice Uma Nath Singh said, “The Joint Secretary (MHA) shall, thus, immediately issue necessary orders directing all the concerned to provide security at the place of residence of the chief justice and the Judges after they demit the office and during their journey/transit or shifting from one place to another.”

“We may also clarify that one of us has been provided additional security at his native place in Imphal, Manipur. As he will shift to Imphal after demitting the office on 1st February, 2016, the present security available at his residence at Imphal, said to be “Y‟ category, shall thus continue at present and after 1st February, 2016 in terms of the statement given by the Joint Secretary,” the bench said.

It also stated, the request for security cover on change of places shall originate from the High Court by way of addressing a letter by the Registrar General/Registrar to the Joint Secretary, North East, Government of India,(and/or by the Secretary to the Protectee provided at the place of his stay) with copy to the Meghalaya Government and the state where the protectee shall move and stay.

“However, in order to make the position further clear, we  direct that whenever there is a fresh assessment of threat perception in respect of security cover of the chief justice and the judges of this court after retirement, the same shall be done only in consultation with the protectee and certainly not without his knowledge,” the bench said.

It added, “We also direct that during the course of movements from one place to another of the protectee, necessary arrangement shall also be made to ensure the security protection.”

In that case, the Registrar General of the High Court shall inform the Joint Secretary, North East, the Director General of Police, Meghalaya and the Director General/Commissioner of Police and the home secretary of the concerned state to provide security, the bench stated.

The order came following an affidavit filed by MHA joint secretary (NE) Satyendra Garg that security cover for the chief justice and the judges will ‘continue’ till fresh assessment is made considering their place of stay after they retire.

While amicus curiae K Sultan Singh expressed dissatisfaction with the affidavit, he submitted that there should be ‘minimum’ security cover on permanent basis even after fresh assessment of threat perceptions is made.The next hearing has been scheduled on January 13.-By Our Reporter