Just over a month after the Madras High court mandated that it be brought under CISF security cover by November 16, the force took charge today.
Under the new security arrangements, all advocates, staff and reporters were frisked at entry points and asked to show identity cards by CISF personnel.
Some 'minor problems' pertaining to demarcation of areas for security were solved by the judicial officers and leaders of the Bar.
CISF personnel were posted in front of chambers of Judges and in front of all courts and state police were seen giving full assistance to CISF.
On November 13, the first contingent of 250 Central Industrial Security force personnel, including 20 women, had arrived in the city to take charge from 6.
CISF took 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 had then made it clear none would be allowed in the campus without any valid pass or identity card that is issued by the 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.
A total of 450 CISF personnel are to be pressed into service at the principal bench here, while another 200 would start work at the Madurai bench later this month.
On October 14 last, the 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 HC order 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.
