State-wide security standards for judicial officers across Jharkhand must be established without waiting for violent disruptions to occur, the Jharkhand High Court ruled while disposing of a public interest litigation linked to the 2022 mob attack on the Latehar Civil Court.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice M. S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar affirmed in an August 17 order that although the right to protest is a fundamental right, it does not permit vandalising court premises, assaulting judicial administration personnel, or disrupting legal proceedings. The bench observed that incidents of this nature strike at the independence of the judiciary, which constitutes a basic feature of the Indian constitutional framework.
Expecting district-level security across the state to mirror measures recently instituted in Latehar, the high court instructed authorities not to delay protective arrangements until similar incidents arise elsewhere. The court noted that an independent judiciary requires an environment where judicial officers can carry out their duties without fear, intimidation, or safety risks, citing Supreme Court decisions that highlight judicial safety and dignity as core components of judicial independence.
Security Measures Enhanced At Latehar Premises
Evaluating recent affidavits regarding security arrangements, the bench expressed satisfaction with the protective steps taken at the Latehar court complex. Present measures include armed security personnel, improved physical infrastructure, a nearby Quick Response Team, comprehensive CCTV monitoring, and video-conferencing facilities for the production of high-risk undertrial prisoners.
In addition, individual security assessments revealed that every judicial officer posted in the Latehar judgeship is currently assigned at least one bodyguard and one home guard. The high court directed that a comparable level of personal security cover be ensured for judges serving across all districts in the state.
Background Of The 2022 Latehar Court Siege
The suo motu proceedings stemmed from an incident on October 10, 2022, when a crowd of more than 500 people forcibly entered the Latehar Civil Court complex. Armed with lathis and sickles, members of the Tana Bhagat community locked the court premises, bringing all judicial proceedings to a standstill. Police reported that the group was demanding complete self-rule with no involvement from courts or government bodies.
During the surge, the crowd vandalised the court property and assaulted police personnel. The situation escalated to the point where the then Principal and District Sessions Judge of Latehar had to be locked inside a room for protection.
In response to the attack, the high court had previously directed the Jharkhand Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to submit intelligence reports, action taken summaries, and security assessments for judicial infrastructure. In disposing of the PIL, the court noted that its immediate security concerns had been substantially addressed, adding that it expects law enforcement to bring ongoing investigations from the 2022 incident to a logical conclusion while maintaining district court security on a continuous basis.
