Chandigarh, March 9, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau): The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to submit details regarding the deployment of security personnel at the residences of retired police officers and bureaucrats.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel issued this directive while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Nikhil Saraf. The court examined an affidavit submitted by the Haryana government, which included details about security provided to political leaders and their residences but lacked specific information on security personnel deployed at the homes of retired officials.
The PIL, filed in 2019, seeks judicial intervention to ensure optimal utilization of state resources, both material and human. In response to this issue, the Punjab government had earlier informed the High Court that the security deployment for senior officials and politicians is regularly reviewed by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Security. It maintained that security provisions are based on threat perception and the state’s security policy, with periodic reviews to ensure maximum personnel are deployed for law enforcement and public safety.
Similarly, Haryana Police, in its response, stated that the deployment of security personnel at the residences of senior officials and politicians follows the rules set by the ADGP CID on January 27, 2006. The security provided is determined based on threat perception reports issued by the concerned units.
However, neither state’s affidavit mentioned the exact number of police personnel assigned to retired officials. Taking note of this omission, the High Court has now sought specific details on security arrangements for retired police officers and civil servants.
