The Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday defended the lifetime security provided to its retired judges. The SC mentioned that the arrangement is lawful, and backed by the Presidential Order, considering their sensitive past duties and security risks.
A court spokesperson said, the recently issued circular is aimed at implementing established security protocols, scaling down force deployment beyond what the law allows, and ensuring better coordination between the apex court, the Interior Ministry, and provincial governments.
“This is not about extraordinary favour or added privileges,” the spokesperson said. “It’s about aligning security with legal entitlements and preventing unnecessary overuse of state resources.”
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In line with this approach, the court also streamlined the Chief Justice’s security detail, reducing the official convoy from eight vehicles to two. This change has freed up a considerable number of security personnel for routine policing duties.
“The decision reflects the Supreme Court’s resolve to ensure the prudent use of public funds while maintaining appropriate security standards,” the court noted.
Security for serving judges has also been revised to fall within their legal entitlements and to remove excessive or inconsistent deployments.
Officials added that the new framework strikes a balance between institutional needs, security realities, and public accountability.
The circular, the court clarified, is administrative in nature and reinforces the message that public resources must be used wisely, even in matters as sensitive as judicial security.