HC targets VIP security, tells netas to stay indoors if ‘scared’

The Delhi High Court today took on politicians and their security team of “obnoxious” commandos “who shoot first and talk later".

The Delhi High Court today took on politicians and their security team of “obnoxious” commandos “who shoot first and talk later”. A Division Bench led by Justice T S Thakur observed: “If the so-called VIPs are so scared for their lives that they should have 15 gun-totting commandos surrounding them, then let them not come to these crowded public places at all.”

The Bench said politicians were not a “national asset” that need to be protected. “These security officers treat the common man as second rate, pushing them off footpaths and threatening them,” said Justice Thakur, referring to an incident when a senior Supreme Court judge who was taking a walk was made to stand facing a wall by “overzealous” security staff of a passing VIP.

“The judge, who was on a footpath, was not only stopped by these men, but told to keeping standing with his face to the wall. All this because some political leader was passing by,” he said. “Getting into an argument with such hot-headed men is out of the question. No one knows what they will do next, from firing his gun to giving a push,” he added.

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The court’s observation came while hearing a writ petition on the increase in criminal activities in the capital. Justice Thakur pointed out that for many VIPs, getting Z-plus security has become “fashionable”. He said: “If these popular leaders are so popular, they should ask the people to protect them. Old people are killed in their beds, but here you have commandos surrounding political leaders all day.”

The Bench then asked the counsel for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Meet Malhotra, to produce a list of VIPs in Delhi who have Z-plus security. “Tell us how many political leaders coming to Khan Market have Black Cat commandos with them — we can even produce photos of such incidents. Tell them that the best security is to stay unobtrusive. Total anonymity is the best security,” it observed.

Malhotra placed on record a list of VIPs provided with Z-plus security in Delhi, and noted that the Ministry had already drafted a revised policy for security to individuals.

Delhi Government counsel Mukta Gupta told the court that work was on to fix CCTVs in crowded marketplaces to spot and record misbehaviour by security staffers.

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Noting that the practice of carrying lethal weapons and wearing uniforms to public places by Personal Security Officers (PSO) were a clear violation of the law, the Bench directed the Ministry’s counsel to place on record a draft of a “revised security policy”.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Malhotra said: “The revised policy basically says that threat perception to VIPs will be reconsidered every six months, according to which the accommodation and category of security will be fixed by the Ministry in each case.”