In Brief
The Supreme Court set aside a Rajasthan High Court judgment that had directed the government to exempt Chief Justices and High Court judges from pre-embarkation security checks at airports. The High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of a news report about a security breach and issued directions amending the government's exemption list, whilst also formulating suggestions for a National Security Policy. The Supreme Court held that the High Court had exceeded its judicial review powers. Security matters—including threat assessment and exemption decisions—fall exclusively within the executive domain and require expertise courts lack. Judicial review must remain confined to ensuring legality and constitutional compliance, not to suggesting policies. The appeal was allowed and the High Court's judgment was set aside.
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