Centre evaluates security of the CJI, calls for foolproof measures

The security of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) has become a matter of great concern for security agencies. According to the Order of Precedence, the CJI ranks sixth in the entire country. This implies that he is entitled to receive a high level of security. Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Intelligence Bureau held a meeting to discuss this issue. 

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'Ensure foolproof security'

After evaluating the existing arrangements, it was felt that the security of the CJI was very flimsy. The participants of the meeting noted that anyone could walk up to him easily. There were instances of people garlanding him and taking a selfie. The security apparatus deemed this to be inappropriate and called for a comprehensive overhaul. This was revealed in an official letter issued by ID Shukla, the Delhi Police Joint CP security. Thereafter, it was decided that the security agencies would deploy a team in close proximity to his convoy. Taking into account, the present-day threat perception, they emphasized the need to maintain foolproof security for all top dignitaries. 

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The letter read, "During the course of the discussion, it was pointed out that the security arrangements of Delhi Police are very flimsy to an extent that anyone could walk up to the Chief Justice of India and garland him or take a selfie with him. This practice has not been appreciated and must be stopped immediately.” It further stated, "The current security scenario requires that all stakeholders should go the extra mile to ensure foolproof security for all the high dignitaries.” 

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DCP suspended for security lapses 

In October 2018, there was an alleged shortcoming in the security of CJI Gogoi when he visited the Kamakhya temple during the Navratri festival in Assam. He faced a lot of inconvenience due to this. The CJI expressed his displeasure and advised the local administration and police to look into the issues related to crowd management. Subsequently, the West Bengal government suspended the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Guwahati) and Kamrup (metro) Additional Deputy Commissioner for the lapses in security arrangements and protocol breach. 

(With ANI inputs)

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