Avoid deputing escort police for VIP security: High court

Dealing with a PIL on undertrials languishing in courts, the Bombay high court today observed that authorities should avoid diverting the police force meant for escorting prisoners to courts for security of VIPs.

One of the contentions raised during the hearing of the PIL was that undertrials are not taken to courts for scheduled hearings, because often there are not enough policemen to escort them.

During the hearing today, senior counsel S R Chitnis pointed out that many times the policemen on the "escort" duty are deputed to provide security to VIPs.

Taking note of this, division bench of justices Ranjana Desai and V K Tahilramani observed in the order that "..policemen are deputed for VIP security which results in inadequate staff being available for escorting the prisoners to the court."

"Such situation should be avoided," the court said, adding that "production of prisoners (before courts) is a prime obligation."

Gandhi's PIL was about large number of  prisoners who are languishing in prisons as their trials are pending. 

High court had passed various orders in this PIL earlier, but today, disposing it of, court observed that under "national mission for judicial delivery and reforms," steps are being taken to dispose of cases speedily.

In accordance with the national mission for judicial delivery, special sitting of courts were held on January 26 this year, and 464 undertrials were released on bail across the state, and in Goa.

These prisoners are mainly charged with petty, bailbale offences.