Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 17

The Supreme Court imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh each on several states, including Kerala, for their failure to file affidavits in the case relating to protection of judges and court complexes.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, which was piqued over non-filing of responses by several state governments, allowed them to file their affidavits in 10 days subject to payment of Rs one lakh each with the Supreme Court Bar Association Advocates’ Welfare Fund.

“If they fail to file their affidavits within 10 days we will be compelled to seek the presence of the Chief Secretaries of the states concerned,” the Bench said.

Terming it an administrative, the Bench asked if the Centre was willing to raise a force like CISF or Railways Protection Force for judges and judicial officers in the country.

On behalf of the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the top court that it might not be “feasible” and “advisable” to have a national-level security force like the RPF or CISF to guard judges across India.

The top court was hearing a PIL on safety and security of judges, lawyers and court complexes across India in the wake of alleged murder of a judge at Dhanbad in Jharkhand.