CISF cover not needed for court: HC

The Madras High Court has orally observed that CISF security is meant only for industries and not for the high court.

“I have been in this court for about a year now and there are no terrorist activities warranting the CISF,” remarked Acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh.

This suggested a new line of thinking, as former Chief Justice S K Kaul had insulated the High Court campus about 18 months ago from external and internal disturbances by deploying the CISF.

On Monday, when former president of the Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA) R C Paul Kanagaraj argued for revocation of suspension of nine advocates, the first bench of Acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice RMT Teeka Raman questioned the need for the force, for which the Tamil Nadu government is paying Rs 32 crore per year towards salary component alone.

"If the Centre is keen to provide high security to the court, why should the state government pay? Also, if any law and order problem arises, it is for the local police to manage. Everywhere in India, only the respective state police is managing courts," the bench said.

When Assistant Solicitor General S Srinivasan pointed out that Delhi High Court was under CISF security, the bench said, “May be it is required there because Delhi is nearer to Pakistan.”