In an attempt to strengthen the security at the courts, the lawyers entering the court premises will soon be asked to swipe their electronic Identification (ID) cards which are issued by the Bar Council & Bar Association at the ID Card Scanners installed at the gates of the courts said a state government official.
Even the litigants who wish to enter the court will have to submit the copy of their identity proof such as Aadhar Card to enter the court, the official added.
The State Government, on the directions of the Allahabad High Court, is now preparing a comprehensive security plan for all the courts that are present in the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
After an accused was killed inside a courtroom in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh in December 2019, the Allahabad High Court directed the UP Government to formulate a viable plan for the security of the courts in the state.
Last Month, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) said that a detailed plan for the security of the courts is being prepared. He said that the District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) of all the districts have been asked to submit their work-plan regarding the security of the courts in their respective districts.
Awasthi said that preparations for the Courts’ security in several districts were reviews via video conferencing and the UP Government has already ordered to install the CCTVs, construction of boundary walls, security gadgets, separate entry gates for the litigants, checking of passes of the litigants, removal of encroachments and also have asked the authorities to enlist the vendors in the court premises.
When Awasthi spoke of the bomb blast in the court premise in Lucknow, he said that it was a fallout between two groups of lawyers.
Also Read: Bomb Explosion At Lucknow Court, Many Injured, 3 More Bombs Found
On the directions from the Allahabad HC, the district administration asked to hold meetings with lawyers, advocates, judges, officer-bearers of the Bar Associations and brief them about the security arrangements. Awasthi said that the suggestions they will receive from the Bar Associations will also be included in the courts’ security plans.
J P Singh, Principal Secretary, Law said that Chairman of the UP Bar Council has given the green flag to the security plan of the UP Government, adding, that the complete security plan will be implemented in the next 2-3 months in all the courts in Uttar Pradesh.
Brijesh Pathak, Law Minister, has said that the security plan devised for the courts was reviewed by Principal Secretary, Chief Secretary, and Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Law.
Pathak said that the Allahabad HC’s order on the security of courts will be implemented following the schedule.
