The Bombay High Court has directed the Director General of Police to place on record details of any security audit conducted across High Court buildings, judges’ residences, and trial courts in Maharashtra, underscoring growing judicial concern over safety lapses and delays in deploying sanctioned security personnel.
The direction was issued by a bench led by the Chief Justice while hearing a suo motu public interest matter on judicial security, triggered in the backdrop of nationwide concerns following earlier proceedings before the Supreme Court of India on protecting judicial officers. The High Court flagged the need for a consolidated assessment of security arrangements not only at its principal seat in Mumbai but also at its benches and district courts, amid parallel proceedings where the State’s responses on deployment and audits were found wanting.
The Court stressed that judicial safety cannot be treated as a routine administrative issue and sought concrete data on audits, manpower, and timelines for deployment. Expressing unease over prolonged opacity, the bench observed, “insofar as regards the security is concerned, the matter cannot be kept in the dark for months together,” and directed the police to submit details of audits and existing arrangements, while listing the matter for further hearing.
Case Title: . Bipin Vasant Shinde & Ans. Vs. Pune Municipal Corporation through Municipal Commissioner Shivajinagar, & Ors.
Case No.: Writ Petition No. 17202 Of 2025
Coram: Hon’ble R. I. Chagla, Hon’ble Advait M. Sethna
Advocate for the Petitioner: Senior Counsel Anil Anturkar, Adv. Bhushan G. Deshmukh, Adv. Aryan M. Deshmukh, Adv. Aniket Kanawade,Adv. Irvin D’zouza i/b Sugandh B. Deshmukh
Advocate for the Respondent: Senior Counsel i/b Mr. Pratik Deshmukh, Adv. r. Abhijit P. Kulkarni Adv. Gourav Shahane, Adv. Shreyas R. Zarkar
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