How do you assess threat perception: HC to Centre, Delhi

The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre and the Delhi Police to inform it about the system adopted in assessing the threat perception of an individual seeking security.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar posed the query during the hearing of a plea by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashish Khetan alleging death threat from right-wing organisations.
Khetan has also sought framing of guidelines to be adopted by probe agencies for dealing with such complaints.
Taking note of the submission, the bench asked the counsel for the Centre and the police whether there were any guidelines in this regard.

It directed the authorities to file a report with regard to the way they assess threat perception of an individual and provide security and fixed the matter for further hearing on August 9.
The Supreme Court had refused to interfere in the matter and transferred the plea to the high court.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khetan, said this was not a matter related to an individual and sought framing of guidelines.
He said neither the police nor its chief had responded to Khetan's complaint despite the petitioner having a rank of a Cabinet minister. Nobody had given him a hearing, he said.

"All I am asking is that these threats should be investigated. Such threats are coming due to the atmosphere nowadays," the petition has said.
The AAP leader had moved the apex court on May 24 and sought protection alleging threats.
He had said that on May 9 he had received a threaten letter written in Hindi at his office which claimed that his death was imminent.
"The language and content of this letter is similar to the threatening article published by Sanatan Prabhat against Narendra Dabholkar, both before and after he was killed.
"The threat is a chilling reminder of the growing confidence of the anti-national and fascist forces who want to exterminate all dissenting voices," the plea alleged.

Khetan, who is the vice chairman of the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi, had sought a ban on right- wing organisation, Sanatan Sanstha, and a CBI probe monitored by the court into the alleged death threat.
He also sought police protection following alleged threats from several right-wing outfits and formulation of guidelines for protection of people who get death threats.