'Lawyers Part & Parcel Of Justice Delivery System': Patna High Court Seeks Basic Facilities For Advocates In All Courts

While hearing a PIL filed by Advocate Ramakant Sharma, a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar directed,

"The Secretary In-charge, Law will hold a meeting with all the stakeholders and prepare a plan for providing basic facilities to the lawyers of the state."

The court observed that as per the State's affidavit dated May 10, a communication has been sent to all the District Judges/District Magistrates for identifying the land for construction of (a) Lawyers' Halls; (b) Toilet Complexes and (c) Digital Computer Rooms. This is in terms of the scheme formulated by the Department of Law and Justice, Government of Bihar, as revised on 19th of August, 2021.

With regard to construction of toilets for lawyers, the Court observed that the scheme specifically does not deal with the separate toilets for the lawyers and confines to the toilets to be constructed within the court complexes. Also the digital computer room, as referred to in the scheme is, perhaps, in reference to the establishment of infrastructure within the court complexes.

The Court ordered that it cannot be unmindful of the fact that lawyers are part and parcel of the justice dispensation/delivery system and, as such, complete infrastructure is necessarily required to be in place for their use. To begin with, such infrastructure be by way of construction of halls, be it adjacent or adjoining to the complexes must be endeavoured.

The court directed that the proposal for construction of a lawyers' hall with toilets and digital computer room, to be forwarded to the Central Government for necessary approval and sanction.

In the last hearing, the Court had directed the Chief Secretary, Law of the state government to take action on the matter from his level. Along with this, the court had directed the central government to clarify the situation.

It has been said in the petition that the condition of basic facilities in the local courts is very worrying.

Now, the matter will be heard on 30th June, 2022.

Advocate Ramakant Sharma appeared for the petitioner and AG Lalit Kishor appeared for the respondent.

Case Title: Ramakant Sharma Vs State Of Bihar And Others

Coram: Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar

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