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Chandigarh : On Thursday, a leader reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court demanding increased police security. His previous security was also withdrawn on the orders of the High Court. The High Court rejected Netaji's petition and directed the government to withdraw the security given to him earlier.
Condemning the misuse of police protection as a status symbol, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that security provided by the state should be reserved only for persons facing legitimate threats and not for pretending to be of the 'achieving class'. A VIP is
The High Court reprimanded
Calling for an end to this practice, Justice Manisha Batra said that private individuals should not be provided security at state expense unless compelling circumstances require such security. Even then, security should be provided until the threat has passed.
Justice Batra said that if the threat is not real, it would be unfair to provide security at the cost of taxpayers' money. The court said that a category of privileged individuals should not be created by the state. Limited public resources should be allocated wisely, focusing on the overall welfare and security of society, and not on the personal security of individuals with special agendas.
'The job of the police is not to provide security to any ambitious person'
The bench said that Punjab shares a significant border with Pakistan. Unfortunately, the state faces illegal activities including drug and arms smuggling. In such a situation, the state needed the police force to function to its full potential. Justice Batra emphasised that the role of the state police is basically focused on maintaining peace, law and order in the society and ensuring the safety of the common people.
The police have no obligation to provide personal security to individuals, including ambitious or prominent individuals, unless there is a credible threat to their safety. The High Court made this remark while rejecting the demand for enhanced security of a Patiala resident and the chief counsel of the legal cell of a political organisation.
The High Court dismissed the petition
The High Court found that the lawyer was seeking security as a symbol to show his VIP status. The High Court held that despite the round-the-clock security of two armed police officers, he had no valid reason to demand an escort vehicle carrying IRB/commandos with at least five gunmen.
The High Court said that there is no merit in this petition. Therefore it is dismissed. The court also said that if the authorities feel that there is no threat to the petitioner, then in such a situation the authority is free to withdraw the security given to him earlier. The court directed the High Court Registrar to ensure that a copy of this order is sent to SSP Patiala.
