Tight security at Bombay High Court for 26/11 hearing

Mumbai: General public has been barred from entering the Bombay High Court as part of measures to bolster security in a run-up to the hearing via video-conferencing of the confirmation of death sentence awarded to lone surviving Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Kasab next week.

A circular has been issued by registrar general MN Gilani on October 13 under directions of chief justice Mohit Shah. The division bench of justices Ranjana Desai and RV More will hear the matter in court room 49 on the second floor. The judges will also hear Kasab's appeal and the state's appeal against the acquittal of Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Shaikh.

The circular states that the media, staff, lawyers, staff members, "should desist from carrying cellphones with them while entering court room 49 whenever they are required to appear in the said court room." Advocates have been requested to inform their clients about the security measures and desist from calling their clients to court unless required.

A pass system is being introduced at the entrances. The litigants have been asked to furnish their identity details including full name, age, sex, mobile number, purpose of visit and case number. They even have to furnish name and telephone number of the advocate representing them.

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High Court staff has been instructed not to move unnecessarily on the second floor, especially near court room 49, "unless they are required to do so in the exigency and urgency of office administration and/or court work." The circular states that no passes will be issued after 4 pm. It also clarified that the "outer limit for the purpose of staying in the high court premises is only till 5.30 pm and not beyond that under any circumstances."

Also, the High Court on Thursday asked the state to take instructions on an application filed by Anjali Waghmare, the lawyer who was appointed to represent Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and removed by the special court.

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Waghmare has sought expunction of remarks made against her by judge ML Tahaliyani while revoking her appointment. Justice VK Tahilramani asked additional public prosecutor Anuradha Mane to take instructions from the Legal Aid Panel, from where she was appointed for one of the victims of the 26/11 attacks.

On April 15, 2009, Tahaliyani revoked Waghmare's appointment as Kasab's advocate observing that she suppressed facts from the court about her being the advocate for a victim. Terming the observations as "incorrect, baseless and frivolous", Waghmare has urged the court to expunge the special judge's remarks saying she was not given an opportunity of hearing.

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