High Court orders removal of Punjab cops from judge’s security

Less than a fortnight after a “miscreant” ended his life by suicide after seizing the firearm of a personal security officer (PSO) assigned to a sitting judge, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the removal of Punjab Police personnel from the security duties.

Directs deployment of ‘neutral’ force

This court deems it appropriate that the security personnel dealing with the security of the judge ought not to be members of the Punjab Police…. The deployment of a neutral police force, but not of the State of Punjab, for securing the movement of the judge shall certainly assuage the feeling of insecurity perceived by the judge. Division Bench of High Court

In a major embarrassment for the Punjab Police, the court at the same time ordered the deployment of a “neutral police force” for security in its place. “The personnel manning security of the judge within and outside Chandigarh shall immediately be changed from the Punjab Police to the police personnel belonging to either the UT Administration or the State of Haryana,” the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal asserted.

In its detailed order, the Bench asserted that the investigation was within the state’s exclusive domain. But threat perception had to be assessed as perceived by the judge. It was well known that largescale lapses on investigating agencies’ part in the State of Punjab were exposed by judicial orders passed by the judge during the past “12/24 months”.

“This court, thus, deems it appropriate that the security personnel dealing with the security of the judge ought not to be members of the Punjab Police force, but either of the UT Administration or the State of Haryana. The deployment of a neutral police force, but not of the State of Punjab, for securing the movement of the judge shall certainly assuage the feeling of insecurity perceived by the judge,” the Bench added.

The Bench also called upon the UT Administration and the State of Haryana to suggest appropriate investigating officers, not below the rank of Superintendent of Police of a district to conduct investigation. “Let the UT Administration/Haryana Police comply with this direction and file compliance report before the next date of hearing,” the Bench added.