New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Karnataka government for demanding Rs 14.80 lakh to provide escort and security to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and accused in the Bengaluru blast case Abdul Nasser Madani during his Kerala visit. A bench of Justices S.A. Bobde and L. Nageswara Rao was shocked to know from counsel Prashant Bhushan and Haris Beeran that that Karnataka was not taking seriously the court’s direction and was asking the petitioner to pay Rs 14.80 lakh.
The Bench questioned Karnataka counsel for not keeping its direction to charge the bare minimum amount for security-related expenses. It said the state government should review the present list of expenses and furnish new expense on August 4 considering only TA and DA of the security team. The matter would be taken up on Friday for appropriate decisions. Last week the apex court granted permission for Madani’s visit to Kerala for his son’s marriage. On Thursday, Madani‘s counsels Prashant Bhushan said: “When Madani visited his mother last time we paid only Rs 18,000. Only four security persons were there. How can he pay this absurd amount?.”
Annoyed at the state’s demand, SC pulled up the government for the exorbitant rate. It said “You want to make it (Kerala visit) impossible indirectly. He has not become the employer to pay them Rs 8,400 per day for an ACP. Total Rs 2.20 lakh for 13 days. While escorting, they are keeping eye on one man from point A to B and from B to A. Yes, officers are entitled to TA / DA. Is there any additional duty? For Rs 4,000, a driver will drive anywhere. Escort means what? It’s only part of regular duty.”
The Bench told Karnataka counsel “Providing security is the state’s job. This is not the way to guard him. With cognizance of whom are you taking such decisions? Take it seriously. It’s only to do with justice on the order of this court. Is this how the state government deal with the order? The court directed the state government to review the present expense and furnish new details by Friday.
