Withdraw security to history-sheeter MLA, daughter: HC

The Allahabad High Court has directed Uttar Pradesh government to "immediately" withdraw the security cover provided to mafia don-turned-politician Vijay Mishra, a sitting MLA of ruling Samajwadi Party, and his daughter Seema Mishra.
A Division Bench comprising justices Sunil Ambwani and Satish Chandra passed the order on February 20 on a petition filed by Pankaj Tripathi against the Y-level security cover given to the MLA from Gyanpur constituency in Sant Ravidas Nagar district and the X category security enjoyed by his daughter.
Tripathi, who is with the BSP and whose uncle Rakesh Dhar Tripathi was a cabinet minister in the previous Mayawati government in the state, had alleged that the SP government's decision to provide security cover to the MLA, named in "about 60 criminal cases", and his daughter violated Article 14 of the Constitution (right to equality before law).

Fixing March 4 as the next date of hearing in the matter, the court also asked the state government to file its counter affidavit along with details of the meeting of the state-level committee wherein the decision to provide security cover to the MLA and his daughter was believed to have been taken.
The court observed that "it apparent from the instructions received from the state government that the state level committee has not considered the threat perception on the lives of the respondents so far. The 'X' and 'Y" category security has been given to them as an interim measure.

"The material, on the basis of which such interim security was given, has not been placed before us".
Moreover, the court remarked that "the 'X' and 'Y' category security is a high-level security for which the state government has to bear a very high cost.
"The reason as to why such interim security has been offered to a person against whom 60 criminal cases have been registered.... Must be brought on record," it said.