CISF conducts mock drill at Madras High court

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), mandated by the Madras High Court to provide security cover to it, today conducted a mock drill, two days before the HC deadline ends, as it wants to ensure a foolproof system is in place.

CISF will take over the High Court security from Tamil Nadu police, pursuant to the October 15 order of the first bench directing deployment of CISF from November 16, when the court reopens after Diwali festival holiday.

It had also directed the state and central governments to jointly formulate a security protocol.

A total of 650 CISF personnel would be deployed for security.

Inspector General (CISF) Vinay Tosh Mishra told reporters that 250 CISF personnel participated in today's drill.

The security system at the High Court would be similar to that provided at the airport, he said.

A meeting on various aspects of providing CISF cover was held on Wednesday between CISF Commandant Sriram and Building and Security Committee comprising five judges and Commissioner of Police Rajendran and Additional Commissioner of Police V A Ravikumar.

The High Court had given the order considering a suo motu PIL after it witnessed unruly scenes and obstruction caused by lawyers agitating for declaration of Tamil as official language of the court and over contempt of court proceedings against two Madurai-based Bar leaders last month.

On November 4, the Supreme Court had refused to interfere with the High Court order for deployment of CISF by replacing state police security at its Chennai premises, which had witnessed unruly scenes by lawyers paralysing normal work.