Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Summit Nayyar seeking security of court complex, advocates and litigants, Division Bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan today issued various directions to the State.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi for the PIL whereas Advocate General DC Raina for the State, DB observed, “in terms of orders dated 30.11.2015 and 02.12.2015 as regards the security concerns in High Court Complex, Jammu/Srinagar as well as District Court Complex, Janipur, the State has filed the compliance report”.
“It is stated that it has been proposed to install 50 CCTV cameras in and around the court premises – 25 each at Jammu and Srinagar court. It is also stated at the Bar on behalf of the State that out of 50 CCTV cameras, some CCTV cameras each at Jammu and Srinagar court premises have already been installed”, the DB further observed.
Accordingly, the DB directed the State to install the remaining CCTV cameras at Jammu and Srinagar court premises at the locations already indentified by the Security Wing of the State within a period of four weeks.
Registrar General of the High Court was directed to ensure providing of a command room for installation of monitors for CCTV purposes within the specified period.
Division Bench further observed, “so far as Maalkhana is concerned, which is presently housed in the basement area of the lower court building at Janipur, it is stated by the State-respondents that the same needs to be shifted”.
Upon this, Division Bench issued directions for identifying the land in consultation with the Registrar General within a period of four weeks and report compliance accordingly. State respondents were also directed to make a provision in the budget itself for construction of a new Maal-kahana.
About the explosive material lying in the Maalkhana, the DB said, “it is the duty/responsibility of the State to destroy the same”. Accordingly, the State was directed to destroy the same forthwith and in doing so they may also take the help of Army experts.
It was further directed that henceforth no explosive material be kept at the Maalkhana housed in the basement area of the lower court building at Janipur. It was further directed that till the construction of new Maalkhana, any such material either be kept at the Police Maalkhana or at any such place which is exclusively meant for such purposes.
During the course of hearings, Registrar General also produced on record a copy of Communic-ation No.3170-75/SPCN dated 23.02.2016 regarding minutes of the Multi Agency Security Review Meeting held at High Court Complex, Jammu on 16.02.2016. Division Bench, after perusal of the same, directed Registrar General to take necessary steps in consultation with the concerned State authorities with regard to the points raised in the meeting.
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