Today(on 8th May),Uttarakhand High Court explores moving bench to IDPL campus in Rishikesh in response to PIL against ex-employees’ residency.
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NAINITAL: Today(on 8th May), The Uttarakhand High Court is examining the potential relocation of a bench to the IDPL campus in Rishikesh, following an order from a division bench. Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Thapliyal have instructed the state government to consider this option in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) aimed at removing ex-employees of the Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (IDPL) who currently reside in the company’s large colony in Rishikesh.
During the legal proceedings, Uttarakhand’s Advocate General S N Babulkar and Chief Secretary Radha Raturi were present, with the latter attending virtually. The expansive IDPL campus, covering 850 acres, has remained inactive for numerous years, yet it still serves as the housing area for its former staff.
The oral order issued by the high court has generated strong reactions from the high court bar association. Immediately after the announcement, the bar association held a meeting to vehemently oppose the proposed relocation. According to them, shifting a bench of the high court to Rishikesh would serve no purpose and would not be in the best interest of the litigants or the lawyers.
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In response to the protest by the lawyers, the division bench refrained from signing the order and instead requested a written proposal from the bar association within a week. The court seeks the bar association’s comprehensive views on the potential relocation of the high court bench to a different location.
The possibility of moving the high court bench to the IDPL campus has both advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, it could bring judicial services closer to the former employees who still reside in the sprawling colony.
Nevertheless, doubts have been raised regarding the feasibility and efficacy of such a transition. The high court bar association contends that relocating the bench to Rishikesh would lack substantial benefits for both litigants and lawyers. They assert that retaining the high court’s current location is more practical and conducive to the needs of all stakeholders.
The high court bar association holds a pivotal position in championing the rights of lawyers and litigants. Their firm resistance to the suggested relocation underscores a profound apprehension regarding its potential ramifications on the legal framework and the dispensation of justice.
The division bench’s choice to request a written proposal from the bar association reflects a commitment to examining all viewpoints on the issue. This method guarantees that the opinions and worries of the legal community are considered before arriving at any conclusive judgment.
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As the discussion persists, it remains uncertain whether the Uttarakhand High Court will ultimately move forward with relocating the bench to the IDPL campus in Rishikesh.
