Judges Should Not Abuse Security Resources, JSC Warns
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has brought to the attention of judges and judicial officers a concerning anonymous petition, which alleges that some judicial officers have been misusing and harassing police personnel assigned to their security.
After reviewing the petition, the JSC shared a letter titled “Judges’ Security” with the judges. The Sunday Times understands that the petition was first sent to the Presidential Secretariat and was later forwarded to the JSC with instructions to inform judges and judicial officers.
The JSC notice highlights that the misuse of public personnel has been completely stopped since the new government took office. It stresses that police officers should focus on their primary duty of serving the public, rather than being used for personal tasks.
Some of the allegations in the letter shared with the judges suggest that certain judicial officers have been using their assigned security officers for personal gain. The petition claims that these officers have been used to raise public profiles, get discounts, provide transportation after parties, and even perform various tasks around their homes.
It was also reported that some judges have been using police personnel, who are meant to secure court premises, as personal security guards and for private work. This includes using them to issue summons, warrants, and register cases instead of properly managing their clerical staff.
There are concerns regarding the use of police motorcycle escorts for judges. The notice pointed out that judges should leave their homes earlier to arrive at court on time, especially when neither the President nor the Prime Minister uses escort vehicles. This has raised questions about the necessity of such escorts.
Another allegation is that judges with four police officers assigned to protect their homes have been using them to secure their private residences while they are away in outstations. In cases where no police personnel are assigned to a judge, local police officers have reportedly been summoned and blamed by the judges.
The JSC also stated that the decision to provide police security to judges was made after the tragic killing of Judge Sarath Ambepitiya. However, the JSC noted that the extent of security now in place needs to be reconsidered to prevent abuse of resources.
Additionally, the anonymous petition raised concerns about some officials in the Attorney General’s Department. It claims that these officials frequently summon senior police officers for unrelated matters, distracting them from their primary responsibilities. There are also accusations that some state attorneys have been using police officers as personal assistants, despite having adequate staff, due to poor administrative management.
The JSC’s notice calls for a thorough review of these practices to ensure that public resources are used appropriately.
