JudiciarySecurity – Delhi High Court Reviews Safety Measures for Trial Judges
JudiciarySecurity – The Delhi High Court on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the safety of judicial officers after the Delhi Police informed the court that 12 trial court judges in the national capital are currently facing security threats. The development came during the hearing of a petition seeking stronger protection measures, including Personal Security Officers (PSOs), for district court judges.
Justice Manoj Jain, who has repeatedly questioned authorities over inadequate security arrangements for members of the judiciary, observed that preventive action should not wait until an unfortunate event takes place. The court stressed that judicial officers perform sensitive duties and deserve proper protection while discharging their responsibilities.
Court Questions Existing Security Policy
During the proceedings, the counsel representing Delhi Police submitted that security deployment is generally based on threat perception assessments. The counsel informed the court that threat inputs had already been identified in the cases of 12 judges.
Justice Jain responded by noting that security in cases involving confirmed threats is expected as a basic responsibility of the administration. However, the larger issue before the court, he said, was whether broader security protection for judicial officers should be treated as a legitimate institutional requirement rather than being limited only to specific threat assessments.
The court further questioned whether authorities were taking adequate steps to safeguard judicial independence by ensuring judges can work without fear or intimidation.
High Court Seeks Detailed Records
The Delhi High Court directed the police to place on record the minutes of meetings held regarding the security framework for judicial officers. The court stated that it wanted to examine what decisions had been discussed and whether meaningful action had been proposed.
The police counsel informed the bench that a meeting concerning security arrangements had already taken place. In response, Justice Jain directed the authorities to submit all relevant documents and discussions before the next hearing.
The matter has now been listed for further consideration on July 7.
Government Asked to Respond
Apart from seeking records from Delhi Police, the High Court also called for a response from the government regarding the plea. The bench remarked that insufficient protection for judges could affect the independence of the judiciary, especially in situations where officers may face potential risks while handling sensitive cases.
The observations from the court highlighted growing concerns around institutional security for members of the judiciary across different levels of the legal system. Legal experts have often pointed out that trial court judges frequently handle criminal matters, organized crime cases, and politically sensitive disputes, making security an important administrative issue.
Separate Petition on FIFA World Cup Broadcast
In another matter heard by the High Court, a petition was filed seeking free-to-air telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on public broadcasting platforms such as Doordarshan and DD Sports.
The petitioner argued that broadcasting rights for the tournament have not yet been secured for public platforms, creating uncertainty over access for viewers across the country. The plea requested that the tournament should be made available through publicly accessible channels instead of remaining limited to private broadcasters.
Taking note of the submissions, the High Court issued notices to the Centre and Prasar Bharati and sought their responses on the issue.
The petition stated that major international sporting events attract nationwide public interest and should remain accessible to a wider audience, including viewers who may not have subscriptions to private sports networks.