The Punjab and Haryana High Court has turned the spotlight on Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, instructing him to substantiate his need for Y+ security protection—a cover the Central government now wants to discontinue.
Justice Kuldeep Tiwari, presiding over the matter, gave Surjewala four weeks to present all necessary materials to the appropriate authorities. The Court made clear that a decision must follow swiftly, but only after giving him a fair hearing.
Surjewala’s security saga began back in 2016, when he knocked on the Court’s door, citing imminent threats and asking for Central Industrial Security Force protection. By 2017, the Centre had granted him nationwide Y+ category cover. However, the Court had inserted a safeguard: the government couldn’t modify or withdraw the protection without first obtaining judicial clearance.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Centre, armed with a fresh threat assessment report, now says there’s no longer a specific risk to justify the high-level security detail. It has formally sought the Court’s nod to revoke the cover.
Surjewala disagrees. Asserting that the danger to his life is still real, he told the Court he’s ready to appear before the authorities and furnish supporting evidence.
Taking this into account, the Court has temporarily cleared the way for the government’s application, keeping the matter open for further hearing on September 30.
Multiple legal teams were in attendance: representatives for Surjewala, the Central government, and the State of Haryana all made their submissions. The legal chess match now hinges on whether Surjewala can convincingly prove that the threat hasn’t passed.