New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Uttar Pradesh Government on providing official gunmen to "shady" characters and persons with "questionable credentials."

Two weeks time

A Bench consisting of Justices S.B. Sinha and Markandeya Katju asked the Uttar Pradesh Advocate General S.M. Kazmi to explain within two weeks, as to under what statutory law, such privileges were being extended to the protectees.

"We want to know from where the power emanates," the Bench asked Mr. Kazmi who claimed that the State Government was empowered to issue such notification.

Not impressed with the reply the Bench asked, "We are asking you a very simple question. Where is the source of power?"

When Mr. Kazmi said the circular providing gunmen was issued in pursuant of a policy decision taken by the Government, the Bench retorted, "you cannot take out a circular and say it is a policy decision."

Policy decision

Any policy decision should conform to the statute, the Bench said.

Justice Katju intervened and observed that leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru mingled with crowds without the aid of any security personnel.

"If you do good deeds, why do you need gunmen. Ask your client do some good deeds, then you will not need gunmen," the judge quipped. — PTI

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