Chennai: The Madras high court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation which sought a direction to the authorities concerned to provide special protection group (SPG) security to chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Recording the submissions of advocate general A.L. Somayaji that adequate security has already been provided to the chief minister, a division bench comprising Justices S.K. Agnihotri and K.K. Sasidharan dismissed the petition filed by advocate M. Balaji.
In his petition, Balaji said in view of escalation of risks and threat to the life of the CM, because of her proper timely action against the terrorists, the SPG cover was necessary.
He sought a direction to provide SPG security to CM or give equal training by the SPG team to selected police officials from TN and procure weapons like ultra-modern FN Herstal assault rifles, besides world-class ballistic protection gear and high-tech communication gear and other things immediately for her security.
Observing that the litigant has filed this petition only on an apprehension regarding security threat to the CM, the bench noted the contention of the state that the security provided at present was sufficient and there were competent officers in the state force to provide full-fledged security. “Since the state police was providing foolproof security to the CM, there is no basis for the apprehension raised by the petitioner,” the bench added.
The bench said the petitioner has no case that state police committed serious lapse in providing security to the CM. Moreover, there was also no incident of security lapse.
In any case, it was for the Security Review Committee to consider the security aspects and the threat perception. In view of the submission made by the state with regard to the adequate security provided to the chief minister, “We do not feel it necessary to issue any kind of direction to provide SPG security to the CM at this moment,” the bench noted and dismissed the plea for special protection.
