Delhi: Lawyers abstain from work in district courts for better security

NEW DELHI: A day after the shootout at Rohini District Courts Complex, questions are being raised and meetings are being held regarding security lapses in all the other six district courts in Delhi. Lawyers also abstained from work in all the district courts on Saturday to push for revision of security arrangements.
Advocate Rakesh Sherawat, chairman of Bar Council of Delhi, said that a meeting was held with Delhi Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana, wherein the bar members pointed out the security lapses.“We have pointed out the lapses regarding CCTV cameras not in working condition, metal detectors not properly working and the police personnel not diligently doing their duties. We want to fix accountability of these officers,” Sherawat told TOI.
“The police commissioner was equally concerned and he acknowledged that there was some fault. He promised us that he will rectify those and come back with a complete foolproof security plan for all district courts,” he said.
Rakesh Wadhwa, president of New Delhi Bar Association, said there were lapses in security in all the district courts. “At the Patiala House court, we have as many as 12-13 gates. It’s very difficult to have a thorough security arrangement,” he said.
Wadhwa further said, in a meeting held with the district judge, it was proposed to have only three gates for entry and exit of litigants and lawyers. “We are appealing to the lawyers also that they should not hesitate in getting themselves frisked and if somebody wants to check them, they should volunteer for their thorough checking. We are looking for arrangements for restricted entry here.”
YP Singh, the president of the Dwarka Bar Association, said lawyers fully cooperated in their security checks and claimed it was a lapse on the part of the Delhi Police. “There is no problem regarding frisking of lawyers. The personnel deputed here are those who do not do their duty properly. If a lawyer refuses, it would have been reported to the Bar Association. We have got no such complaints ever,” Singh claimed.
He further said that the intelligence unit of the police failed and they should have taken all precautions while producing such a notorious gangster before the court.
“Every court room’s entry has a metal detector for checking bags. It’s simply a case where the blame has been put on the lawyers. The Delhi high court’s security model should be followed at the district courts too,” he told TOI.