Directions to amp up security issued after man stabs wife within Madras High Court premises [Read Circular]

After a man attacked his wife with a knife in the 1st Additional Family Court within Madras High Court premises earlier this week, a circular intended to tighten the security within the Court complex has been issued..A common court complex houses the Madras High Court as well as several lower courts, including the family courts..In an incident that marked a major security lapse, the man had managed to carry with him a large knife into the Court premises. This, despite the fact that litigants entering the court complex are generally frisked by the police at major entry points. The security cover for the lower courts housed within the Court complex falls under the supervision of the State police. The CISF presently only oversees the entry and exit of persons entering the Madras High Court within the same complex..The circular issued by Principal Judge AKA Rahmaan now directs that litigants are only allowed to enter the court premises through designated entry points. The designated entry points are as follows:.For the Principal Family Court and Additional Family Courts I-III, the litigant can only enter through the main entrance of the additional buildings. For access to the Additional Family Courts IV-VII, litigants can only enter through the entrance near the IV Additional Principal Family Court.Exit is permitted through all access points.These instructions are not applicable to advocates, court-staff and counsellors on the production of their ID cards..Other directions issued towards increasing security within the Court complex include the following:.Relatives accompanying litigants are not permitted to enter the Family Court premises. They are to be retained outside the main door entrance.Manual checking will be carried out for litigants, regardless of gender. A separate search hub is set up for the security check of women litigants.The Deputy Commissioner of Police is to ensure the posting of adequate police personnel at the entry and exit points..On a related note, Advocate RY George Williams on Wednesday made a mention before Chief Justice VK Tahilramani for increasing the security measures in the Family Courts, in light of Tuesday’s incident. In response, Chief Justice Tahilramani directed that his representation be handed over to the Registrar General of the State Law Department, along with the sketch he has prepared of the Family Court premises..Read the Circular: