Bar Council to go to SC for better security

The Bar Council of India on Thursday decided to move to the Supreme Court, seeking clear guidelines for the Centre and state governments to ensure proper security in all courts. The move came after lawyers staged protests against the security lapses across the country. Nagendar Sharma reports.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Thursday decided to move to the Supreme Court, seeking clear guidelines for the Centre and state governments to ensure proper security in all courts. The move came after lawyers staged protests against the security lapses across the country.

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"We moved to the court on the advice of eminent jurists," said BCI chairman, Ashok Parija. The BCI also demanded the Centre should direct state governments to send status reports about the existing security arrangements in their courts. Parija said that the council will send its own teams to different states to assess the security conditions, especially in lower courts.

The 13th finance commission had provided Rs5,000 crore for strengthening infrastructure in courts. "This amount could also be utilised for installing essential security gadgets," BCI said.

Delhi-based lawyer Ajay Agrawal on Thursday said he has already filed a petition in the apex court, demanding that the government ensure adequate security in Supreme Court and high courts.