Adequate security arrangements made for Swamy's security at residence: Centre

The Centre on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure safety of former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy at his private residence considering that he is a Z category protecteeTaking note of the Central governments submission Justice Yashwant Varma closed the proceedings in the application filed by Swamy in which he claimed that in spite of an earlier assurance the Centre was yet to make adequate security arrangements at his private accommodationAdditional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain representing the Centre submitted that security agencies are satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure safety of Swamy considering that he is a Z category protecteeIn pursuance to the courts earlier direction the Centre also filed an additional affidavit in the matterAlso Read Subramanian Swamy moves Delhi HC over Centres failure to provide security at his private residenceSenior advocate Jayant Mehta appearing for Swamy also told the court that vacant possession of the bungalow will be handed over to the authorities by SaturdayThe counsel had contended that securityrelated facilities were yet to be provided at the former MPs private residence and while October 26 was the last date given to him to vacate the government bungalow authorities visited the new premises only after the matter was mentioned before the high court on October 27On October 31 the court was informed by the central government that a security review of Swamys private house where he would be residing after vacating the governmentallotted bungalow has been undertakenThe senior politician a former Rajya Sabha member would get whatever he was entitled to as a Z category protectee residing in a private space the governments counsel had saidThe Centres lawyer had said skeletal security has been provided at Swamys private residence and the main guard would move along with him from the government bungalowIf there is no place to set up adequate infrastructure such as a guard room six security personnel would be placed on rotation basis at Swamys private house the lawyer had saidOn September 14 the court had directed Swamy to hand over possession of his government bungalow to the estate officer within six weeks noting that the allotment was made for a period of five years which had come to an endSwamy whose term as a member of the Upper House of Parliament came to an end on April 24 had earlier moved the high court for reallotment of the government bungalow citing security threats to himWhile disposing of Swamys petition seeking reallotment the court had recorded that there was no material shown which mandated and required the allotment of government accommodation to a Z category protecteeComprising of 22personnel team the Z category is the secondhighest level of security cover in IndiaThe ASG had submitted that while Swamy continues to remain a Z category protectee the policies and guidelines which govern such protectees does not obligate the government to also provide residential accommodation from the general poolHe had said while the Union government would continue to extend Z category protection to him subject to due periodical review it would not be possible for the government bungalow to be realloted to SwamyJain had said in any case the petitioner has his own residential premises where he can possibly shift and the protecting agencies would take all further steps in that premises as may be warranted to ensure his safety and securityThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever