Mega security cover for High Court from Monday

CHENNAI: A comprehensive security system (CSS) would be put in place at the Madras High Court from Monday. The move comes in the wake of the bomb explosion outside the Delhi High Court on September 7 that killed 15 persons and injured several others. Also, a fake advocate wielding a knife had entered the Madras HC premises and threatened the staff on September 19.“A CCS proposal, submitted to the State government by a judges’ security committee in 2008, will be implemented with modifications suggested by a two-member panel comprising Justices C Nagappan and D Murugesan,” a senior police official told Express.Under the round-the-clock security scheme, over 400 police personnel drawn from the local stations and Armed Reserve would be deployed in three shifts at the premises. “Around 200 personnel will work from 8 am-2 pm, another 200 from 2-8 pm. There will only be skeletal security in the night because all the gates will be closed at 8 pm,” the officer said.Armed guards would be posted at eight points, including the Chief Justice chamber and the family, POTA, TADA and city civil courts. All the eight entry gates to the court would be manned by an inspector and a team of police constables.Members of the public and litigants would be allowed entry only through the Esplanade Gate after production of ID cards. “The litigants must produce authentication letter from their advocates,” the police official said.  They must then report at a reception counter, set up just inside the gate, where the court registry staff would issue passes after collecting details such as identity, address, telephone number etc. Visitors, litigants and their baggage would be frisked thoroughly . While judges would make their entry through the Judges’ Gate, advocates on two-wheelers or four-wheelers must enter through the North, Aavin and South Gates. The advocates would be allowed entry only on production of IDs, issued for instance, by the Bar Council.The officer said door frame metal detectors had been fixed at all the eight gates, while hand detectors would be used to scan baggage. Closed-circuit television cameras would be installed within a fortnight, he said.