Bombay High Court Demands Security Audit Details After Amravati Judge Burglaries
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has raised serious safety concerns following a daring series of burglaries targeting judicial officers in Amravati. The court has formally sought comprehensive details regarding whether security audits have been conducted for courts and residential quarters of judges and staff across the entire Vidarbha region.
Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Theft Incident
Acting on a Times of India report published on February 16, 2026, the court registered a Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 26/2026) after unidentified burglars targeted nine houses in a single night within the Nyay Colony on the Amravati district court premises. The thefts included residences of five judges and four court employees located across multiple residential buildings.
The affected residences included:
- Shahapur, Nal-Damayanti, and Painganga buildings housing judges
- Suvarnrekha and Saryu buildings housing court staff
The burglars demonstrated precision in striking locked homes, effectively challenging existing police security arrangements and highlighting significant security vulnerabilities.
Judicial Bench Seeks Comprehensive Security Information
A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode questioned whether similar security audits had been carried out for judicial establishments in Vidarbha beyond the high court premises. The bench specifically inquired if quarters of judicial officers and employees had undergone such security assessments.
Additional Government Pleader Kalyani Marpakwar informed the court that a similar petition is pending before the Bombay bench, and that security audits of the High Court premises in Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Goa, and Kolhapur had already been conducted with reports submitted. However, the Nagpur bench sought clarity on whether such audits extended to district-level courts and their residential colonies.
Marpakwar indicated that the audit process for district-level facilities is currently underway, but the court directed the state government to place on record details of any past audits conducted for judicial security infrastructure.
Court Emphasizes Gravity of Security Breach
The bench underscored the seriousness of the incident, noting that burglars successfully targeted multiple judicial residences despite existing security measures. The court emphasized that such breaches directly impact the safety and security of judicial officers who play crucial roles in the justice delivery system.
The PIL was formally filed by amicus curiae Ved Deshpande, with the court directing the state to provide comprehensive information about security protocols and audit findings. The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 20, 2026, with the possibility that it may be taken up in the presence of the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, who is expected to be in Nagpur on that day.
The court's intervention highlights growing concerns about the security of judicial personnel beyond metropolitan areas, particularly in district-level facilities where security infrastructure may require significant enhancement.
