Mumbai, February 13 The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra police to submit details of any security audits conducted of high court buildings and residential premises of judges across the state and all trial courts.
A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad passed the order earlier this week in response to a suo motu (on its own) plea, in line with the Supreme Court's ongoing concern over the safety of judicial officers and the legal fraternity.
The apex court had taken up suo motu proceedings on the issue after the death of an additional sessions judge in Dhanbad in 2021.
On February 10, Maharashtra's Advocate General Milind Sathe informed the HC that he would apprise the court of the steps taken by the police department to ensure the security of the court premises and the safety of judges.
The court accepted this and scheduled the matter for further hearing on February 17, but requested details of any security audits conducted.
"We require the Director General of Police to provide a copy of any security audit conducted of the High Court and the buildings where the judges of the Bombay High Court reside, including the benches at Goa, Aurangabad, Nagpur, and the circuit bench at Kolhapur, as well as the trial courts in all districts," the HC said.
The apex court had taken note of the threats faced by judicial officers nationwide after the killing of a Dhanbad judge, observing that the State has a duty to create a secure environment so that judges and lawyers can function without fear.
The SC had noted that similar incidents were being reported across the country and indicated that wider consultations with States and Union Territories were necessary.