Inert in trying times?

The hoax call at Tis Hazari courts complex on Thursday should be a wake-up call for the authorities. A reality check by HT a day before reveals why, reports Sumit Saxena.

A day before a hoax call rattled the Tis Hazari courts complex on Thursday, Hindustan Times did a reality check on the security arrangements at the complex. Here's what HT found on Wednesday.

HT Image

All the four entrance gates leading to the courts complex were unmanned. There were no policemen stationed at the gates to check the vehicles entering the complex.

“Security is zero inside the court. The policemen here are not even armed with weapons. Vehicles enter the court premises without any check. Most of the metal detectors at the entrance to the court complex do not work. Baggage of visitors is also never checked. The court is very vulnerable to terror strikes,” said B.S. Rana, an advocate at Tis Hazari courts.

Despite a crowded market near the court, no policemen were found regulating the entry of visitors to the court. Rickshaw pullers ply inside the premises and hawkers sell their stuff without any objections from security officials.

There are no police personnel even at the entry gate leading to the main hall in the court complex.

A typist at gate number 2 of the Tis Hazari court complex said he has not seen any policemen checking vehicles or people entering the court premises in the last 12 years.

“I have not seen policemen monitoring movements at the entry gate. Even inside the court complex, nobody bothers to check baggage or raise an alarm for any unidentified object,” said Alam Mia.

The lawyers who have chambers near gate number 4 complained of illegal parking. Some lawyers also complained that people are often found consuming alcohol inside the complex.