Ranjan Gogoi to get Z plus security in Assam after his retirement

GUWAHATI | NEW DELHI: Outgoing Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi will enjoy Z plus security in Assam where he is likely to settle after his retirement on November 17. Security of Gogoi and four others judges was beefed up ahead of the delivery of Ayodhya verdict last week, ET has learnt.
Assam police has been tasked with the security arrangement for Gogoi’s ancestral home in Dibrugarh and another house in Guwahati. A senior police official on condition of anonymity told ET in Assam, “We have received a communication from the Union home ministry where it is stated that Gogoi’s security is upgraded to Z plus, which is the highest security cover. We are doing necessary arrangement for proper security as he is likely to stay in Guwahati post retirement.”

Home ministry officials said the ministry will not like to comment on the security of an individual. However, sources said security of Gogoi and four judges was beefed up after a threat assessment. While Gogoi has been accorded the highest level of cover, other judges have been accorded different categories of security.

Gogoi’s old house in Guwahati is renovated. In October last year, deputy commissioner of police Bhanwar Lal Meena was suspended for security lapses during Gogoi’s visit to Shaktipeeth of Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. “We will ensure that everything is in place before he comes here,” a home department official told ET.

On November 9, the CJI and four judges gave Ayodhya verdict granting Hindus the 2.77 acre disputed land for construction of Ram Temple and ordered that Muslims be given 5 acres at a prominent location to build a mosque in the holy city. Gogoi also headed a bench which, by a majority 3:2 verdict, referred to a larger seven-judge bench the pleas seeking review of the apex court's historic 2018 judgement allowing women and girls of all ages to enter Kerala’s Sabarimala temple.

Ahead of the Ayodhya verdict, Delhi police had imposed section 144 of CrPC near the residence of Gogoi and chief justice designate S A Bobde prohibiting any unlawful assembly of four or more persons in the area. The Assam government have been told to provide security for Gogoi’s residence in Guwahati as per his entitlement, North Block officials told ET.