CJ directs Haryana, Punjab, UT to come up with security plan for judicial officers

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 29

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice, Justice Krishna Murari, has asked the police and state authorities to come out with a security plan for the judicial officers in the districts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The instructions for preparing the plan follow the gunning down of the wife and son of a Gurgaon Additional District and Sessions Judge.

Talking to The Tribune after four advocates were administered oath as Additional Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court this afternoon, Chief Justice Murari said the authorities concerned were asked to come out with the security plan as they have the necessary expertise. “The security plan suggested by them would be put up before the security committee, constituting High Court Judges, for its examination and necessary action,” Chief Justice Murari asserted.

The wife and son of an additional district and sessions judge were allegedly shot by a police head constable posted as the judge’s personal security officer earlier this month, raising concerns about the safety of judicial officers across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

Soon after the incident, the High Court held a high-level meeting with senior officers of the police and state administration of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to discuss the issues arising out of the incident.

The meeting was chaired by Chief Justice Krishna Murari. The Directors-General of Police of the two states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh were reportedly present during the meeting.

Responding to a query on the possibility of misuse of security staff by judicial officers in the districts, Chief Justice Murari said no such case had come to the High Court’s notice. “The DGPs of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh were asked whether any complaints were received regarding misuse of security personnel. Their categorical stand was that not even a single complaint had so far been received in this regard”.

Regarding the existence of vacancies in the subordinate judiciary, Chief Justice Murari said the recruitment process was on. “The entire process was delayed following the allegations of paper leakage. As the officer accused of being involved in the HCS (Judicial Branch) paper leakage was handling PCS (Judicial Branch) recruitment also, the process of filling up the vacancies was affected in both the states. But the process is on,” Chief Justice Murari added.

As of now 5,133 of 22,036 posts of subordinate court judges are vacant across the country. Information collected by the Supreme Court Registry from different high courts indicates that recruitment process to fill up 4,180 posts is underway.