Inherently unfair for well-off individuals to receive protection as they can afford it: HC

Chandigarh: Taking note of Punjab Police providing security to individuals on payment, the Punjab and Haryana high court observed that it is inherently unfair for well-off individuals to receive police protection simply because they can afford it. According to the HC, it creates a two-tiered justice system that privileges the wealthy over the vulnerable.
In its detailed order on Friday, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar observed that in a society that values equality, access to public services, including law enforcement, should be based on need and risk, not economic status.
"When only those with the financial means can afford additional security, it exacerbates existing inequalities... undermines the idea of justice as a universal right," the judge observed.
The judge further directed the DGP Punjab to furnish details about the comprehensive policy regarding security to private citizens, officers authorised to grant it on payment, and the criteria for appraising a threat perception.
Further details have also been sought by the HC regarding the number of police personnel, including their battalions and districts, deployed for security of private citizens, as well as the number of protectees and whether any discretionary power vests in the security in-charge, Punjab, or district police chiefs to provide security to private citizens by deviating from the policy.
Justice Brar passed these orders while hearing a petition filed by Baljinder Kaur. The petitioner in this case alleged that one Inderjit Singh of Ludhiana, who was provided security by the Ludhiana police, was pressurising her in a dispute over a plot. During the hearing of the matter, the HC was informed that Inderjit Singh was provided a gunman by Punjab police ADGP (Security) on payment as per the state's new policy. The gunman was provided on payment of salary, pensionary benefits, and Rs 12,000 (per month) as facilitation charge to be paid by the protectee.