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Judges and state counsel misusing police officers, says JSC notice
View(s):The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has brought to the attention of judges and judicial officers the contents of an anonymous petition that alleges the misuse and harassment of police personnel assigned for judicial officers’ security.
Having considered the ‘anonymous petition’,the JSC shared with judges a letter titled ‘Judges’ security’. The Sunday Times learns the petition had been sent to the Presidential Secretariat and had been forwarded to the JSC with a directive to bring it to the attention of judges and judicial officers.
The JSC notice points out that the misuse of public personnel has been completely stopped since the new government took office, and measures have been taken to ensure that the police engage in their primary duty of serving the public.
Some of the contents of the letter forwarded to the judges and judicial officers supported the allegation. “They are using security officers assigned to them and have become close confidants to raise their public profiles, to get goods at discounted rates, help them to return home after getting drunk at parties and for other miscellaneous work in their homes,” the notice said.
It also said that judges are using police personnel assigned for the security of court premises as their security guards and using them for private work while in offices and their homes. This includes getting them to issue summons and warrants and to register cases instead of properly managing the clerical staff and other staff members at their disposal.
Questions have also been raised regarding the police motorcycle escort provided to judges. “It has been pointed out that if the judges are to get to court on time, they should leave their homes early. At a time when neither the President nor the Prime Minister uses escort vehicles, this is a matter that needs to be looked into,” the notice said.
The other allegation against judges is that while they have four police personnel assigned for security in their homes, some judges who serve in the outstations use the policemen to provide security to their private residences while they are away. In instances where police personnel have not been assigned to judges, the OICs of the relevant areas and other senior police officers have been summoned by the judges and subjected to blame.
The JSC notice added that the decision to give police security to judges was taken after the killing of Judge Sarath Ambepitiya, but using one such incident and misusing such a large number of police personnel needs to be reviewed.
In the anonymous petition, there are also allegations against some Attorney General’s Department officials. It said they have made a habit of summoning senior police officials for discussions on work that does not involve them. Those police officers who have no experience with legal aspects fear such summons and take a whole delegation with them when going to the AG’s Department, thus distracting from their work.
It is also alleged that some state attorneys have obtained the services of police officers, using them as coordinating secretaries and getting them to do the work in their offices. “Even though they have adequate staff, due to the weakness in administration, they are unable to manage the relevant staff members,” the notice said.
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