Why is Centre giving security to Ambani?
2 May 2013 7:31 AM IST
The court was hearing a petition filed by a Uttar Pradesh resident on the misuse of security cover and red beacon provided by the government to people.
Hearing the petition, the court questioned the government for giving protection to such persons when the common man is unsafe due to lack of security. It said a five-year-old girl would not have been raped if there was proper security in the capital. The bench said the rich can afford to hire private security personnel.
‘We read in newspapers that Ministry of Home has directed providing for CISF security to an individual. Why is state providing security to such person,’ a bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi said without taking the name of Ambani. ‘If there is threat perception then he must engage private security personnel,’ the bench said adding, ‘Private businessmen getting security is prevalent in Punjab but that culture has gone to Mumbai.’ The bench said that ‘we are not concerned about the security of X,Y,Z persons but about the security of common man’.
The Supreme Court has questioned many times why VIPs are being provided security at state expense while the common man is feeling unsafe. The court on Wednesday again questioned why should persons facing criminal charges be provided security at state expense unless there are specific instances based on records of threat perception.
Recently the central government had decided to provide Z category security to Mukesh Ambani after the Union Home ministry had recently approved an armed commando squad following threat perceptions. The decision of the government had evoked sharp reactions from various quarters, including the Left parties. Later the government had clarified that he will foot the expenses for this estimated to be Rs.15-16 lakh per month.
Hearing the petition, the court questioned the government for giving protection to such persons when the common man is unsafe due to lack of security. It said a five-year-old girl would not have been raped if there was proper security in the capital. The bench said the rich can afford to hire private security personnel.
‘We read in newspapers that Ministry of Home has directed providing for CISF security to an individual. Why is state providing security to such person,’ a bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi said without taking the name of Ambani. ‘If there is threat perception then he must engage private security personnel,’ the bench said adding, ‘Private businessmen getting security is prevalent in Punjab but that culture has gone to Mumbai.’ The bench said that ‘we are not concerned about the security of X,Y,Z persons but about the security of common man’.
The Supreme Court has questioned many times why VIPs are being provided security at state expense while the common man is feeling unsafe. The court on Wednesday again questioned why should persons facing criminal charges be provided security at state expense unless there are specific instances based on records of threat perception.
Recently the central government had decided to provide Z category security to Mukesh Ambani after the Union Home ministry had recently approved an armed commando squad following threat perceptions. The decision of the government had evoked sharp reactions from various quarters, including the Left parties. Later the government had clarified that he will foot the expenses for this estimated to be Rs.15-16 lakh per month.
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