The Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Tuesday called for report from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab within a week about the security arrangements in the courts and directed him to ensure foolproof security of the court.
Through a circular, the LHC Chief Justice has directed the IGP to chalk out a comprehensive security plans for all courts premises and judicial officers under the direct supervision of Regional Police Officers (RPO), Capital City Police Officers (CCPO) or City Police Officers (CPO).
The CJ observed that before finalising the security plans, a meeting shall be made with the district and sessions judges while taking on board the concerned bar associations. There shall be permanent monitoring of the performances of the officers to be assigned the duties of security of the courts premises and judicial officers, the circular added.
CJ added that Naib courts, attached with the courts, shall also be trained subject to their skills to meet the security issues. The CJ further directed the IGP that reports along with copies of security plans, so prepared on district to district basis, shall be sent to this court within a period of seven days.
CJ announced to hold the meeting on receipt of reports and security plans, which shall be attended by RPOs, CCPOs or CPOs. Addressing the IGP, the CJ said: "You are cognisant of the recent issues of security lapses in the courts premises in Lahore and Gujrat. It is needless to mention that there were four causalities besides serious injuries to many others in these two incidents."
He said this is not the first occasion but was earlier also that the security lapses in courts premises have been pointed out and even then the incidents are going on, which apparently speaks about non-serious efforts by police department. In another circular, the CJ taking serious notice of the fact of non-observing punctuality by the officers and officials of the courts, the CJ said that in all courtrooms and offices, attendance registers shall be maintained. Every officer/official shall make initial in the register about his/her attendance, the CJ said.
He said after 8am the register shall remain in exclusive possession of secretaries of the judges concerned and additional registrars of relevant branches. He said the District & Sessions Judge (establishment) shall inspect the registers at random time to time so as to monitor the implementation of these directions.