Armstrong Murder Case | Madras High Court Issues Directions To Improve Security Inside Court Premises

It may be noted that while the security of the High Court building is being looked after by the CISF, the security of the court premises which comprises of the city civil court, family court, tribunals, lawyers chambers, etc, is being taken care of by the Tamil Nadu State police.

The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice M Jothiraman directed the state police to bring in security measures like baggage scanners, frisking equipment etc to increase security.

“Tamil Nadu police is directed to provide adequate security by installing a requisite number of baggage scanners and frisking equipment and accordingly conduct frisking and baggage scanning to provide complete security,” the court said.

The court also suggested that the police department could increase the security at the entrances for lawyers, litigants, officials, and others to reduce any inconvenience that may be caused. The court added that mufti policemen could even be employed to collect information, conduct discreet checking, and take all appropriate action as per law. The court also said that CCTV cameras could be put up in strategic places inside the court complex which could further tighten the security.

“Tamil Nadu police should ensure that there is no security lapse inside the court premises and they can even employ mufti policemen to collect information about the activities and initiate appropriate action as per law,” the court said.

The court further directed the lawyers and members of the bar associations to cooperate with the security procedures by allowing scanning, frisking, etc, and coming to the court in advance to enable the police officers to perform their duties without any inconvenience. The court also gave liberty to the lawyers to approach the police authorities in cases of any grievance with respect to security measures.

Background

BSP leader Armstrong was murdered on July 5, 2024. The investigation later suggested that the murder was a retaliation to the killing of history-sheeter Arcot Suresh in August 2023. In addition to this, the police have also suspected multiple other motives behind the murder. In October 2024, the Greater Chennai police had filed chargesheet against 30 persons. Detention orders were also passed against some of the accused under the Tamil Nadu Goondas Act which has been challenged in the present batch of pleas.

In the previous hearings, while opposing quashing the detaining orders, the Additional Public Prosecutor had informed the court that the accused had allegedly exchanged country bombs inside the court campus. The AAG had also added that quashing the preventive detention may put the lives of the accused in danger, and may even lead to untoward incidents.

Shocked over the same, the bench had instructed the AAG to submit a status report on the investigation in connection with the exchange of bombs. The court had also opined that some measures had to be taken to increase the security in the court campus to prevent such incidents. The court thus asked the counsels present to discuss with the respective bar bodies and come up with proposals.

When the matter was taken up on Wednesday, the court commented that the present security system had to be improved. The court noted that the High Court premises was a sensitive area and the court, as an institution was duty bound to secure the lives of the innocent lawyers.

“Present security has to be improved. It's such a sensitive area. What if tomorrow someone brings in knives and swords? We have to secure the lives of innocent lawyers. The institution should safeguard them,” the court remarked orally.

While the court agreed that some inconvenience would be caused to the lawyers, the court added that it was unavoidable and was part of the issue. The court emphasised that a fear had to be instilled in the minds of the people that if an attempt is made to bring in such items inside the courts, it would be thoroughly checked. The court added that only by doing so, those attempting to indulge in such activities would be dissuaded from doing so.

Case Title: Porkodi v The Secretary to Government and Others

Case No: HCP 3134 of 2024