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The Supreme Court expressed concern over the recent incidents of firings in Delhi courts and emphasized the need for a security plan in every judicial institution across the country, including the deployment of permanent Court Security Units (CSUs).
It said such cases pose a significant threat to the safety of not only judges, but also lawyers, court staff, litigants, and the public, and issued a series of guidelines to strengthen the safety of judges.
The Supreme Court stated on Friday that maintaining the sanctity of the court as a space for the administration of justice and observance of the principles of the rule of law is not negotiable.
Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Dipankar Datta said it was essential for judges to take comprehensive steps to ensure the welfare of all concerned.
"Wouldn't the hope of cases to visit the temples of justice decrease if there is no security shield in the halls of justice? How can the stakeholders ensure that justice is done to them when those who are charged with the administration of justice are themselves insecure?
"It is appalling that the judiciary in the nation's capital has witnessed at least three serious shootings in the past year. To preserve the sanctity of the court as a space where justice is done and the rule of law is non-negotiable, it is essential that judges take comprehensive steps to ensure the well-being of all concerned," he said.