Rohini Court Firing: Lawyer files plea seeking adequate security in lower courts

A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking directions for making adequate security arrangements in the lower courts following the shootout in Rohini Court. Meanwhile, Delhi Police Chief Rakesh Asthana having BAR Council of Delhi chairman Rakesh Sherawat has assured of improving security arrangements in all the lower courts of Delhi within a week

New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking directions to issue guidelines for making adequate security arrangements in lower courts of Delhi, following the shootout in Rohini Court. The petition has been filed by advocate Deepa Joseph. "This shootout inside the court again puts a big question mark on the safety and security of judges, lawyers and litigants inside the district courts in Delhi," the petitioner said.

Advocates Robin Raju and Blasan Mathew arguing on behalf of the petitioner expressed concerns about the firing in Rohini Court, adding that the lawyers practising in the lower courts of Delhi are feeling insecure.

The petitioner further added saying that as she is also from the legal fraternity, she has a 'genuine apprehension' about visiting district courts in Delhi after the firing incident and that the visuals seen on social media have shaken her. She also recalled the incidents of shooting in the Dwarka Court, a firing near the Saket Court in May 2019 and earlier in 2017, wherein an undertrial was killed after being shot inside the Rohini Court Complex.

"A shocking incident similar in line to the incident in Rohini Court was the killing of a Delhi Police head constable when four armed assailants open fired inside a courtroom at Karkardooma Court Complex in the year 2015," the petition mentioned.

The plea also states that strict directions need to be given to the Delhi Police to instruct the personnel deployed at court premises to allow lawyers only after verifying their ID card. Strict action should be ordered against the police officers who do not follow this guideline, the plea says.

It has been suggested in the petition that the Delhi Bar Council should issue an advisory to all the bar associations asking all lawyers to cooperate with the police while entering the court premises.

Delhi Police Commissioner assures beefing up security within a week

Following the shootout, BAR Council of Delhi chairman Rakesh Sherawat, along with other officials reached the Delhi Police headquarters and met Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana to discuss security-related issues at courts. Following the meeting, Sherawat said that the Delhi Police chief has assured him of improving security arrangements in all the lower courts of Delhi within a week.