HC: Remove Punjab cops from security of judge who exposed ‘large-scale lapses by Punjab Police’

The court noted that the judge had exposed large-scale lapses by the Punjab Police in the last 12-24 months

The court’s direction comes amid heightened concerns following an incident on 22 September 2024, where a miscreant grabbed the weapon of the judge’s personal security officer and later shot himself. (Express Archives/ Representational Image)

The division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed that the security detail of a sitting judge, both within and outside Chandigarh, be immediately changed from Punjab Police to either Chandigarh or Haryana Police personnel. This decision follows a recent security lapse at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where a miscreant attempted to steal a 9mm pistol from the personal security officer (PSO) of the judge.

In the order passed last week, the Bench observed, “It is well known that large-scale lapses on the part of investigating agencies in the State of Punjab were exposed by various judicial orders passed by the learned Judge since last 12/24 months. This Court, thus, deems it appropriate that the security personnel dealing with security of the learned Judge ought not to be members of Punjab police force, but either of UT Administration or of State of Haryana.”

The Bench ordered that the personnel “manning security of the learned Judge within and outside Chandigarh shall immediately be changed from Punjab Police to police personnel belonging to either UT Administration or the State of Haryana. Let UT Administration/Haryana Police comply with this direction and file compliance report before next date of hearing.”

The next hearing is scheduled on October 1.

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The court also sought suggestions for appropriate investigating officers from the UT administration and Haryana government to conduct investigations related to the recent security incidents.

The Bench noted that “the miscreant stole 9 mm pistol from holster of PSO of the learned Judge and ran towards entrance of
the Golden Temple with possible intent to harm the learned Judge, but his advancement was thwarted by the said PSO, who tried to retrieve his pistol from the miscreant and in the scuffle that followed, the miscreant shot himself
in the head.”

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The deceased was later identified as Hariprasad by hismother Lakshmi Anandhan, resident of Mahalingapura, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. His post-mortem will be conducted after the arrival of his family.

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The Bench further impleaded Union of India through Secretary, Home Affairs, and the State of Haryana through its Home Secretary parties to this petition.

Satya Pal Jain, Additional Solicitor General of India, appearing through video conferencing, “assured all possible assistance within four corners of law.”

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