A petitioner told Delhi HC that a person who has the means to hire private security should not be given security cover on taxpayers' money by the government.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday wanted to know the "factual position" regarding the security cover given to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray even as the Centre said that the Maharashtra government was taking care of his security.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal said this while hearing a petition which sought withdrawal of the security cover given to Thackeray. The plea also sought a direction to the Centre to frame guidelines about the security cover given to private persons who are engaged in hate speech or having criminal cases pending against them.
During the hearing, the petitioner told the bench that Thackeray has been given security cover by the Maharashtra government. When the court asked about it, the central government's standing counsel Anil Soni said that security was given to him by the state and not by Centre. He, however, said he would look into the issue and would seek instructions.
"What is the factual position, we would like to know," the bench said and posted the matter for hearing to August 26.
The petitioner, Mithilesh Kumar Pandey, has alleged in his plea that persons who are involved in hate speeches and have the means to hire private security guards should not be given security cover on taxpayers' money by the government and a guideline should be framed on the issue. He has also alleged that Thackeray is neither holding a constitutional post nor he is a lawmaker so he should not be given security cover by the government.
The plea sought a direction to the central government to frame guidelines while referring to the ratio of policemen and civilians in India. According to the petitioner, Thackeray is provided with 'Y' category security cover.
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