Bombay High Court seeks details of security put in place for protection of courts, judges

The principal bench of Bombay High Court has expanded its scrutiny of security arrangements for judges and court premises across Maharashtra, with suo motu proceedings calling for a comprehensive security audit. 

This comes days after the Aurangabad Bench pressed the State to urgently deploy additional security personnel and to apprise it of the plan to put in force a ₹443‑crore commitment for court protection.

At the principal seat, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad initiated the proceedings on February 10. 

The bench referred to the Supreme Court’s proceedings of July 2021 wherein the apex court had expressed concerns over the safety of judges and lawyers across the country. 

In line with the top court's observations that that States are duty‑bound to accord full protection to judicial officers as well as the legal fraternity, the High Court directed a focused follow‑up in Maharashtra.

The Chief Justice’s bench requested Advocate General Milind Sathe to inform the Court about the steps taken by the Police Department for ensuring security of court premises and safety of judges. 

The Court also asked the Director General of Police to submit a security audit report of the High Court and residences of judges at all its benches in Goa, Aurangabad, Nagpur and the circuit bench at Kolhapur. 

It also sought details on security provided in the trial courts of all the districts before February 17. 

Five days ago, on February 5, the Aurangabad bench had expressed dissatisfaction with an affidavit from the Home Department in a similar suo motu plea initiated in 2024. 

A division bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten Venegavkar had noted from the security assessment of the Aurangabad bench that out of the sanctioned strength of 350 personnel, only 136 personnel were available. 

A deficit of 214 personnel showed the necessity of engaging additional staff through the Maharashtra State Security Corporation.

The Aurangabad Bench noted that a December 3, 2025 communication of the State judiciary department showed approval to deploy 381 security personnel (283 for all benches and 98 for residential premises) and ₹15 crore sanctioned for the current financial year. 

It directed the Registrar General to ensure the contract is finalised and all 381 personnel are deployed before the end of February 2026.

The Aurangabad bench also took note of a government resolution of December 3, which granted an in‑principle approval of ₹443.24 crore to provide 8,282 security personnel. 

The security was to be disbursed in three stages - first for the High Court, then for district and headquarters courts and finally for taluka courts. 

The Bench called upon the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra to state on affidavit when the second and third stages would be implemented.

This matter will be heard next on February 23. 

[Read orders]