Lawyers asked to drop litigants outside HC gate

With a view to beefing up security in Madras High Court premises, which recently witnessed agitations by advocates and a bomb hoax, the HC today issued a notification informing lawyers they should drop litigants outside the main gate itself, get entry pass from 'Esplanade gate' and then enter the premises.
A notification to the effect was issued today by the Registrar Administration of High Court.
It said persons other than advocates would be allowed into court halls only on showing the entry pass to the Court staff concerned.
On September 29, a mysterious object found in the public lavatory of the High court complex here created a scare before it was declared a hoax.

The object in the size of a geometry box and covered in a white cloth contained two alarm time pieces they said.
The incident had caused a flutter in the court premises as it came close on the heels of the entire area being declared a high security zone by the state police after the HC suggested central security cover in the wake of protests by lawyers.