Extra security cover not vips’ right: HC

VIPs cannot claim a particular category of security as a matter of right, the Delhi high court has said. According to the court, security categorisation was an executive decision made on the basis of threat perception, the court said.

VIPs cannot claim a particular category of security as a matter of right, the Delhi high court has said. According to the court, security categorisation was an executive decision made on the basis of threat perception, the court said.

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A bench of chief justice Dipak Mishra and justice Manmohan ruled so while dismissing an appeal filed by Ashwini Kumar Chopra, a senior journalist with the Punjab Kesari, against the central government reducing his security cover from Z-plus to Z. The Centre had also cancelled the government accommodation that was provided to Chopra in 1998 after he faced threats from Punjab terrorists.

The government had, after a recommendation of the security categorisation committee, in 2009, taken the decision to downgrade his security cover.

The bench allowed Centre to initiate steps to evict Chopra from the government bungalow at Lodhi Estate and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Chopra.