A petition challenging the 'Z-plus'
security provided to VHP leader Praveen Togadia was on Monday dismissed
by the Delhi High Court after the government informed the court that it
has been given as per the guidelines.
A bench comprising justice Usha
Mehra and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog rejected a petition by an NGO -- real
cause -- after additional solicitor general KK Sud, appearing for the Centre,
made a statement justifying the 'Z-plus' security provided to Togadia considering
the threat perception to him.
The court did not agree with real
cause president Kamran Siddiqui's plea for a direction to the government
to review the security to the VHP leader stating that the petitioner has
not made a "specific" mention of the cause for this.
Except annexing a letter written
to the President APJ Abdul Kalam in this regard no real reason for the
review has been cited in the petition, the court said.
Siddiqui, arguing the case personally,
alleged that Togadia has been spreading hatred in the society by his "provocative"
speeches and at the same time enjoying the highest security cover even
when he was not holding any public office.
"The government has acted in contravention
of the law whereby it permitted Togadia to make inflammatory speeches in
Delhi while he is enjoying the 'Z-plus' security," Siddiqui contended.
In his letter of February 27 to
the President, Siddiqui had requested him to direct the Union government
to review the high security to Togadia and another VHP leader Ashok Singhal.