The Delhi High Court requested a response from the Centre regarding a plea from the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) seeking the expansion of the High Court building. The plea emphasizes the need for additional space to accommodate the growing needs of the court.
NEW DELHI: Today( 1st May): The Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and the High Court registry in response to a plea requesting the expansion of the High Court building.
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A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora granted the respondents eight weeks to file their replies and scheduled the case for further hearing on July 31st.
The plea, filed by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) and its secretary, Sandeep Sharma, seeks the creation of more courtrooms, lawyers’ chambers, and other essential infrastructure facilities.
During the hearing, the court highlighted the challenges faced in expanding the High Court premises. It emphasized that the High Court cannot be relocated and requires adjacent land for expansion, which is currently unavailable. The court expressed its concern, stating that the High Court is constrained by limited space and emphasized the need for additional land to address the infrastructure requirements adequately.
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“The problem today is that the High Court is here only. We cannot go anywhere else, and we need the neighbouring land. Virtually we have no land today,” the court said.
The DHCBA and Sandeep Sharma’s plea urge the Central government and the High Court of Delhi to take immediate action to address the pressing need for additional space and infrastructure. The plea specifically calls for the establishment of more courtrooms, lawyers’ chambers, parking facilities, record rooms, and other associated amenities through the redevelopment of adjacent land in Bapa Nagar.
The plea stated
“chaos in Sher Shah Road, Bapa Nagar, Subramanium Bharti Marg, Justice Sunanda Bhandare Marg, and nearby areas due to inadequate parking space after 9 AM on working days. Ingress and egress become extremely difficult, causing inconvenience to residents and congestion in lanes due to parked cars from advocates, litigants, and others.”
The expansion and modernization of the Delhi High Court are crucial to meet the growing demands of the judicial system and ensure efficient delivery of justice. By addressing the infrastructural limitations and providing additional space, the court can accommodate the increasing number of courtrooms and lawyers’ chambers, alleviate parking issues, and enhance the overall functioning of the judicial process.
Case Title: Delhi High Court Bar Association & Anr v Union of India & Ors
