High Court expresses dissatisfaction, constitutes six members’ Committee

TNN Bureau. Updated: 8/15/2017 1:54:20 AM Jammu and Kashmir

Security of Courts

JAMMU: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir, Jammu wing, today expressed dissatisfaction over the submissions made by the State regarding security of Courts in Jammu and constituted a six-member Committee to pursue the case.
In a Public Interest Litigation filed by Summit Nayyar seeking security of Court Complex, a Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sanjeev Kumar after hearing Sr. Adv. Sunil Sethi for the PIL observed that this Court passed detailed order on 19.07.2017, by which the Planning Department was directed to send the proposal with regard to construction of wall around High Court as well as District Court Complex and thereafter for sending it to the Finance Department and that the Finance Department was also directed to sanction amount for installation of CCTV cameras and for release of amount for construction of an alternate road as per the cost component already worked out by the R&B Department in the Comprehensive Security Plan.
When the matter was taken up, Rohit Kapoor, AAG, submitted that in compliance to the order dated 19.07.2017, an amount of Rs. 77.12 lakhs has been sanctioned and released by the Law Department for construction of alternate Court road and for installation of CCTV cameras in the Court Complex. The Learned AAG, however, was unable to point out as to within which time limit the aforesaid amount shall be utilized for aforesaid purpose.
The Division Bench, after gone through the compliance report, expressed dissatisfaction with the submissions made on behalf of the respondents.
Division Bench further observed that in view of the urgency of the issue involved in the writ petition, it can brook no delay.
Taking into account the issue relating to security and safety of the High Court Complex as well as District Court Complex, Advocates, retired Judges of the Court and Ex-Advocate Generals, the Court constituted a committee of Commissioner Secretaries to J&K Government, Planning, Finance, Law & Legislative Affairs and Home Departments, along with Registrar General, High Court of J&K and President, Bar Association, Jammu.
The Division Bench further directed that the Committee shall convene a meeting within a period of two weeks from today and submit its report within two weeks thereafter regarding infrastructure, approach road to the High Court Complex / District Court Complex, security requirements, preparation of e-cards to the members of Bar Association Jammu as well as measures for regulating the entry in the Court Complex so that no any other person may enter in the Court premises.