Almost a month after Madras High Court directed that it be brought under CISF security cover, the first contingent of 250 Central Industrial Security force personnel, including 20 women, arrived here today to take charge from November 16.
CISF will take over HC security from Tamil Nadu police, pursuant to the October 15 order of the first bench, directing deployment of CISF from November 16 when the court reopens after Diwali recess.
The High Court Registrar (Administration) Devanathan said no one would be allowed in the campus without any valid pass or identity card that is issued by High Court.
After Tamil Nadu government's Special Leave Petition against CISF deployment was turned down by the Supreme Court, the state government had deposited an advance of Rs 16.6 crore for manpower expenses.
The CISF entered the premises of the court, which is witnessing hectic construction, fencing and other preparations and their officials held discussions with Devanathan.
Officials said infrastructure like metal detectors, baggage scanners and other facilities are not yet fully ready, as heavy downpour had delayed the preparations.
A total of 450 CISF personnel would be pressed into service at principal bench here, while another 200 would start work at Madurai bench later this month.
A team of senior officers has already left for Madurai to hold discussions with stakeholders.
CISF is expected to hold a dry run tomorrow under instructions of the High Court Judges of the 'Security and Building Committee.'
Devanathan said the HC appointed security committee and other officials would also give specifics and details of new security system, which would be circulated to advocates, law officers, litigants and office staff for better compliance.
Other courts such as Family, Sessions and City Civil and additional Sessions court, CBI court has been separated from demarking the High Court campus separately, he said.
On October 14, HC had ordered that the "inner circle" of its campuses here and Madurai should be brought under CISF protection as a temporary measure and directed the state and central governments to jointly formulate a security protocol.
The court had taken up the suo motu PIL after it witnessed unruly scenes and obstruction caused by lawyers agitating for declaration of Tamil as official language of the court and over contempt of court proceedings against two Madurai-based Bar leaders last month.
On November 4, the Supreme Court had refused to interfere with the High Court for deployment of CISF by replacing state police security at its Chennai premises.
It had said nobody, including lawyers, can be allowed to hold to ransom the institution which has to remain "effective" by maintaining its "integrity" and "dignity.
