STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A Division Bench of State High Court Thursday directed the State to install the CCTV cameras at Jammu and Srinagar Court premises at the locations already identified by the Security Wing of the State within a period of four weeks.
Registrar General of this High Court was also directed to ensure providing of a Command Room for installation of monitors for CCTV purposes within the aforesaid period. Division Bench also passed necessary instructions to shift the Maalkhanna currently housed in the basement area of the Lower Court Building, Janipur.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Summit Nayyar seeking security of Court complex, advocates and litigants, a Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan after hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi for the PIL and Advocate General D.C Raina for the State, observed that in terms of orders dated 30th November, 2015 and 2nd December, 2015 as regards the security concerns in High Court Complex, Jammu/Srinagar as well as District Court Complex, Janipur, Jammu, the State has filed the compliance report.
It is stated that it has been proposed to install 50 CCTV Cameras in and around the Court Premises-25 each at Jammu and Srinagar Court premises. It is stated at the Bar on behalf of the State that out of 50 CCTV Cameras, some CCTV Cameras each at Jammu and Srinagar Court premises have already been installed.
Division Bench further observed that so far as Maalkhana is concerned, which is presently housed in the basement area of the Lower Court Building, Janipur, Jammu, it is stated by the State-respondents that the same needs to be shifted. Upon this Division Bench directed to identify the land in consultation with the Registrar General of this Court within a period of four weeks and report compliance accordingly. State respondents are also directed to make a provision in the budget itself for construction of a new Maalkahana.
Division Bench further said that the explosive material lying in the Maalkhana is concerned, it is the duty/responsibility of the State to destroy the same and directed State to destroy it forthwith and, in doing so, they may also take the help of army experts.
It is further directed that henceforth no explosive material be kept at the Maalkhana housed in the basement area of the Lower Court Building, Janipur, Jammu. It is further directed that till the construction of new Maalkhana, any such material either be kept at the Police Maalkhana or at any such place which is exclusively meant for such purposes.
During the course of hearings of this PIL, Registrar General of this Court has also produced on record a copy of communication No.3170-75/SPCN dated 23rd February 2016 regarding minutes of the Multi Agency Security Review Meeting held at High Court Complex, Jammu on 16th February 2016. Division Bench after perusal of the same and directed Registrar General to take necessary steps in consultation with the concerned State authorities with regard to the four points as raised in the said meeting including the five points raised in compliance report dated 15th December 2015 filed by the State for strengthening/enhancing the security grid of High Court/District Court Complex at Jammu. Let this exercise be completed within a period of four weeks.
