After recent incidents of firing inside court complexes, the Supreme Court has voiced the need for a security plan, including stationing of permanent Court Security Units (CSU), in each judicial complex across the country, along with other security measures.
Just over a month ago, an incident of firing was reported at the Tis Hazari Court premises in Delhi after an argument broke out among lawyers over some issue. Noting that such incidents pose risks to the safety of not only judges but lawyers, court staff, litigants and the general public, the top court said there ought to be in place a security plan prepared by the high courts in consultation with the principal secretaries, the home departments of each state government and the directors general of police of states/union territories or the commissioners of police.
Additionally, it recommended special modules for training and sensitising such personnel in matters of court security. The apex court also directed the high courts to indicate what steps have been put in place to install CCTV cameras, where they are absent, for security within court premises and introduce an audio-visual facility to record evidence and testimonies during the trial.
Firing inside court premises
An incident of firing also occurred in April in the Rohini court complex following an altercation between lawyers and their clients. In the same month, a woman was shot at by a lawyer in the Saket court premises.
Apart from incidents of firing being reported between lawyers, notorious gangster Jitender Gogi was shot dead by two assailants in Rohini court complex in September 2021. His killers were shot dead on the premises by the Delhi police.
