City all geared up for PM Modi’s visit

Jaswinder Singh Baidwan

Akhran da mureed
Staff member
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chandigarh on September 11 is likely to severely hamper the routine work of the District Courts as not only have 21 of the total 33 naib courts (police constables on duty in courts) been pulled out of court work for the next two days and diverted to VVIP duty, the UT SSP has expressed his inability to provide force to bring prisoners from Burail Jail to the District Courts on that day.
In a communiqué sent to the Sessions Judge today, UT SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill has requested that on Friday, the courts may give the next date of hearing to all prisoners (under trial and convicts) who are scheduled to be present in the court on that day.
Besides, no police officer will come to the court to appear as prosecution witness on that day. Medical officers who have been appointed with the medical team to move with Modi will also not appear as prosecution witnesses.
A shift from the routine, only 12 naib courts will look after the work of 31 courts for the next two days. As a result, one naib court has been entrusted with the task of working in two or three courts for the next two days.
“Due to heavy deployment of the police force during the VVIP duty, we are unable to provide the force for ‘sadar’ duty on September 11. It is, therefore, requested that the next date of hearing to all prisoners who are scheduled to be present on that day may kindly be given,” the SSP has written to the court authorities.
“The court’s time is precious and one VVIP visit will bring the working and hearing of cases to a halt. It is practically impossible for one person to look after the working of two or three courts at one time,” said an advocate.
Naib court crucial to court work
The main source of communication of the court with the respective police station, a naib court (who is a police constable or head constable) works for liaison with the police station where the case is registered. Crucial court work such as taking custody of the accused in case of conviction, remand work, besides preparing witnesses for their examination is looked after by the naib court in addition to other work.
 
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