MHA proposes to withdraw Surjewala’s Y+ security; HC allows time to make case before authorities

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed to withdraw the Y+ category security cover granted to Congress Rajya Sabha member Randeep Singh Surjewala following a fresh threat perception assessment by the central security agency.

Taking up the Centre’s plea, Justice Kuldeep Tiwari permitted Surjewala to appear before the appropriate authorities to make his case. The Bench directed that the petitioner be given a fair opportunity to present any material necessary to establish his continuing threat perception.

“The petitioner, within four weeks from the date of passing of this order shall submit all the material before the apt authorities concerned, and thereupon, after affording due opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, the authorities concerned shall take a decision thereof most expeditiously,” Justice Tiwari ordered. The court also directed that a copy of the decision taken by the authorities be placed before it on the next date of hearing — September 30.

Surjewala had initially filed a writ petition in 2016 seeking CISF protection due to alleged imminent threats. A Coordinate Bench of the High Court had, in 2017, disposed of the matter after the Centre decided to grant Y+ security cover throughout India.

Taking note of the petitioner’s apprehension that the government might withdraw security “without any reason and without ascertaining the real threat perception”, the court directed that prior permission was required from the court in case the category of security was sought to be changed.

The matter came up for resumed hearing after the Centre through senior panel counsel Arun Gosain, with advocates Swati Arora and Saurav Rao, sought permission to withdraw the security provided to Surjewala.

“It is submitted by senior panel counsel for the Union of India that in view of the fresh threat perception assessment, as made by the central security agency, it does not indicate any specific threat perception to the petitioner. Accordingly, the Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed to withdraw the security cover provided to the petitioner, and therefore, the application seeking withdrawal of the security has been filed,” Justice Tiwari observed.

Appearing on Surjewala’s behalf, counsel JS Toor, R Kartikeya and Adhiraj Toor contended that the petitioner was still facing threat perception. As such, he wished to appear before the authorities concerned and would submit all the material to substantiate his claim

“In view of the submissions made by the counsel for the parties concerned, this court deems it apt to grant the permission to the petitioner to cause appearance before the authorities concerned. Furthermore, the petitioner is at liberty to submit all the relevant materials, which are deemed to be necessary, to substantiate his threat perception,” Justice Tiwari added.

Haryana Tribune