CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government today told the Madras High Court that it has issued a notification declaring the HC here and its Madurai bench as high security zones, as directed by it, but said it was against deployment of CISF.
On November 8 2011, the then Chief Secretary had written to the Union Home Secretary, requesting the Home Ministry to consider deployment of CISF for security of both courts on a permanent basis.
The government's stand today came in response to suo motu proceedings initiated by the HC on September 14 asking the authorities to take immediate steps to hand over security cover to CISF or any other similar force as 12 lawyers were arrested for staging a protest before the Chief Justice's bench, demanding that Tamil be made official language in the court.
Advocate General A L Somayaji today informed the first bench, comprising Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam, that a G.O. had been issued yesterday. He also produced a copy of the G.O.
Additional Solicitor General G Rajagoplan, who appeared on behalf of the central government, stated that discussons with the state government were also over with regard to the modalities for security of these courts.
The government, while objecting to handing over security to CISF, referred to the May 31, 2007 and June 4, 2007 letters of the Home Ministry that all HCs and district subordinate courts in the respective states and union territories should be declared as high security zones.
It said the DGP had directed all Commissioners of Police and the Superintendents of Police to follow the guidelines in these letters and to review and strengthen security in their respective jurisdictions.
On September 14, high drama was witnessed as 12 lawyers, under the banner of Tamils Struggle Movement of Madurai, staged a day-long sit-in before the CJ's Bench. It included a woman advocate carrying a three-year-old boy. They held placards and demanded that Tamil be declared as official language in court.
The same bench had taken suo motu proceedings in view of the prevailing situation in court and issued notice to the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary, Home Ministry.
It had asked authorities concerned to immediately take steps to hand over security cover for the HC to CISF or any other similar force, saying it was necessary for smooth functioning of the High Court.
It had said that continuance of such incidents was not only destructive and disrespectful towards it but affects its ability to dispense justice, which sets a bad example for other litigants who attend in person and dilutes the HC authority.
It directed the state government to immediately take action and initiate declaration of the HC as a high security zone.