The President of India Pranab Mukherjee shall inaugurate the sesquicentennial (150 years) celebrations of the Foundation Day of the Allahabad High Court on Sunday (March 13) afternoon. He shall release a postal stamps and a 10-rupee coin. Round the clock vigil around the decked up High Court has converted it into a fortress. Here’s a curtain raiser.
On the eve of the sesquicentennial (150 years) celebrations of the Foundation Day of the Allahabad High Court, the city has been transformed into a fortress.
The President shall release postal stamps bearing images of the Allahabad High Court here and its bench at 
Lucknow, besides a 10-rupee coin, on Sunday (March 13) at a function, which shall be attended by the Chief Justice of India T S Thakur, Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda and a number of other judges of Supreme Court and Chief Justices of other High Courts, informed Justice Tarun Agarwala, chairman of the sesquicentennial committee organising the celebrations, talking to reporters recently.
Allahabad High Court, the fourth oldest High Court in the country, was established in 1866. It was housed in a different building initially. The present building was constructed in 1916.
The celebrations shall continue till March 17, it was informed. High Court Museum too shall be inaugurated.
The huge bandobast (arrangements) is mind boggling. Insiders informed that about 2800 dignitaries, including the Governor and the Chief Minister shall be in town. The Circuit House has been booked. Rooms in all leading hotels have been booked till March 16. The district administration has instructed that no hotels shall allow private guests during this period. About 75 Innova cars have been booked from in and around Allahabad.
The city, particularly the area near the High Court, has become an impenetrable fortress.
The security arrangements during the Foundation Day of the High Court are being managed by the Director General of Police (DGP) Javid Ali, heading the state police force. Some VIPs have arrived on Saturday (March 12) and several others are expected on Sunday (March 13). The area around the High Court has been cordoned off since Friday (March 11).
Principal Home Secretary Devashish Panda along with the DGP reviewed the security arrangements on Friday. Several rounds of meetings were held. The DGP was in the Police Head Quarters, where he held meetings with police sleuths. The DGP and Principal Secretary Home went to the High Court where they briefed the court officials about the arrangements. The blueprint of the security arrangements were discussed threadbare.
Photography is strictly prohibited. Round the clock vigil is on. Security has been beefed up. Concentric rings of security are being managed by the commandoes of SPG, NSG, CRPF and other central forces.
The security arrangements is being monitored closely by nine Superintendents of Police (SPs) and 13 Additional SPs, 38 Deputy SPs, 40 inspectors, 1000 constables, 10 companies of Police Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) and two Traffic Deputy SPs.
Other than this, 10 Traffic Inspectors, 47 Traffic Sub Inspectors (TSIs), 200 constables and two fire tenders shall also be present. A Safe House has been set up for the President at the Circuit House. The District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar has ordered special beautification and illumination of the venue for the President.
While the city celebrates its rich heritage and traditions, many of its dwellers, Dalits and poor included, are made to face untold hardships by the overzealous district administration. An authorised vegetable market between the Government Press and AG Office was vacated nearly 10 days back. No alternative place was suggested nearby for the Dalit vendors. This area would be used as car parking. The poor lost their means of earning their daily breads.
It is like sweeping the dirt beneath the carpet. The eye sores have been driven away. This is most unfortunate part, feel a group of people in Allahabad.
Pix by DTNS
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