Supreme Court questions VIP security at expense of ordinary citizens
In India, there are three policemen for every VIP and just one cop for every 800 people.
Amid a national debate on why VIPs enjoy lavish security leaving the public largely unattended, the Supreme Court today ordered all state governments to furnish in two days details of how many police personnel in their states are assigned to politicians. The judges warned that they will summon senior bureaucrats from each state to court if their directive is ignored.
The paucity of security for women, especially in Delhi, was highlighted with brute force in December when a medical student was fatally gang-raped by six men on a moving bus in the capital. The assault provoked large protests in the capital and other cities. In response, the government introduced new anti-rape laws last week which include the death penalty for extreme cases of sexual assault.
The judges today pointed out that the protection for women needs to be drastically increased, and referred to yesterday's declaration by chief minister Sheila Dikshit that despite recent discussions about security reforms, "Women still feel unsafe in Delhi."
The judges said, "We can understand security being provided to the President, Vice- President, Prime Minister, Speaker and their counter parts in the states. But what is the requirement of providing security to judges? Why is security is given to those who are not in power and against whom cases are pending?"
The case will next be heard on February 14.
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Originally Posted by amitsush
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