Delhi High Court Issues Notice To Centre On DHCBA's Plea For Expansion Of Court Rooms, Lawyers Chambers

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on a plea seeking additional space for expansion of court rooms and Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) lawyers chambers and parking.

A division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora sought response of the Union of India through Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs & Law and Justice as well as the Registrar General of the High Court within eight weeks.

“First of all let's issue notice. Let's get a report from the Registrar General. Then we will carry it forward. First the land must come,” the ACJ said.

He added: “The problem is that the High Court is here only. We will need the land. We will look into this matter. We have virtually no land today with us.”

The matter will now be heard on July 31.

The petition, moved by DHCBA, seeks a direction on the Centre to hand over possession of entire land of national capital's Bapa Nagar for infrastructural needs by relocating the existing occupants of the residential quarters to the newly constructed flats in any of the GPRA Scheme.

The petition has been filed through Advocates Nitesh Mehra and Siddharth Tripathy.

It submits that the workload on the Delhi High Court has increased over the years due to which the strength of the advocates has also increased multi fold. It adds that at present, 35,000 lawyers registered as members of the Delhi High Court Bar Association.

The plea contends that the Delhi High Court has scarcity of space to accommodate more Court rooms, lawyers' chambers, modern libraries, canteens, parking, bar rooms and facilities for litigants.

It further adds that a representation was made in July last year to the authorities regarding the urgency of providing infrastructural space for expansion of the Delhi High Court, including Delhi High Court Bar Association.

However, the plea contends, that no steps have been taken on the representation.

“The Government Residential flats at Bapa Nagar, which are next to the High Court, could be relocated and then redeveloped and multi- storey buildings could be constructed then on the land appurtenant to the Delhi High Court complex which land could be given for expansion of the High Court and its allied activities. It is verily believed there would be around 140-145 such flats in the Bapa Nagar Area,” the plea states.

It adds that the provision for a dignified working space is not only a pre-requisite for the administration of justice consistent with the rule of law ensuring both, the dignity of the all the stakeholders in the administration of justice but also for the preservation of the Rule of law and personal dignity.

The Executive Committee of DHCBA includes the following: Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur (President), Advocate Jatan Singh (Vice President), Advocate Sandeep Sharma (Hony. Secretary), Advocate Amit Chada (Treasurer), Advocate Naginder Benipal (Joint Secretary) Senior Advocates Rakesh Tiku and Inderbir Singh Alag (Designated Senior Members Executive), Advocates Shyam Sharma, Sanjay Dewan, Bandana Kaur Grover, Dhan Mohan, Rajat Manchanda, Nishant Anand, Gayatri Puri, Nitesh Mehra (Members Executive) and Senior Advocate Kirti Uppal and Advocate Abhijat (Ex Officio).

Title: DELHI HIGH COURT BAR ASSOCIATION & ANR. v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.