Ex-Meghalaya High Court chief justice justifies permanent security to himself

NEW DELHI (INDIA):The Meghalaya High Court’s former chief justice Uma Nath Singh, who passed orders giving himself and his colleagues security on a permanent basis on the eve of demitting office, has written to Chief Justice of India J S Khehar justifying his much-debated order.nn”The former Meghalaya chief justice has written a good letter,” the bench headed by the CJI said while directing the apex court registry to provide copies of the communication to the parties concerned so that the sensitive matter can be laid to rest.nnThe bench told senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appearing for petitioner Sajay Laloo, that in wake of the letter written by the former HC chief justice, the petition can be disposed of.nnThe bench posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.nnJustice Uma Nath Singh had retired on January 13 last year and in a suo motu proceeding initiated by a bench headed by him had ordered the Centre to provide security on a permanent basis to the chief justice and judges “at their place of residence after their retirement” in view of the risk they run because of handling cases connected with insurgents.nnIt had said that the security cover (‘Z’ category for the CJ and ‘Y’ for other judges) should not be disturbed “even upon fresh assessment of threat perception” after they retire.nnThe Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice enjoys ‘Z’ category cover while other judges of the court have ‘Y’ category security.nnThe bench headed by Justice Singh had said that the threat assessment could not be done without consulting the protectee and the retired judges should be provided security when they travelled from one place to another.nnHansaria had earlier questioned the bench whether passing of such order by a division bench comprising then Chief Justice Singh was a conflict of interest or not, as both the judges were due to retire in January last year.nnSource: Press Trust of India