Supreme Court Issues Directions To Delhi Government For Construction Of Delhi Judiciary Infrastructure, Judges' Residences

The Supreme Court recently directed the Delhi Government to float tenders for the construction of judicial infrastructure in Delhi. The bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra also directed for the Chief Secretary of GNCTD to intimate the steps taken for residential accommodation for judicial officers, the process for the recruitment of staff at the district level, and provision of additional court rooms on a temporary basis.

As per the earlier directions of the Apex Court, a meeting chaired by the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi was convened, which was attended by the Chief Secretary, GNCTD, Principal Secretary (Law), Principal Secretary (PWD), Secretary (Finance), other officers of GNCTD and L&DO. The meeting was also attended by Justice Rajiv Shakdher, Judge of the High Court of Delhi and the Registrar General. The purpose of the meeting was to expedite the necessary clearances and approvals to address the pressing issues faced by the Delhi High Court in terms of infrastructural requirements.

As per the notes of the meeting, a construction of a residential project comprising of 70 residential units for judicial officers commenced at Dwarka in October 2014. The construction, however, came to a standstill due to structural defects which endangered the construction. The project was stalled and there was no other ongoing project for construction of residential units for judicial officers in Delhi. The court directed for a meeting to be convened in order to facilitate a final decision to be taken on the way forward in respect of this Project.

The Land And Development Office (L&DO) of the Union government was also directed to take steps to ensure that possession of the vacant area available for the Rouse Avenue Project was handed over to the High Court of Delhi expeditiously by 31 December 2023.

The Supreme Court passed the following orders in the matter–

(i) An affidavit was directed to be filed on behalf of the GNCTD by 31 January 2024 certifying that tenders have been floated for the construction of judicial infrastructure within the time lines which were specified in the meeting held on 12 December 2023; and

(ii) A review meeting shall be convened on 12 January 2024 under the auspices of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi at which the Chief Secretary, GNCTD shall intimate the steps taken in pursuance of the decisions which were arrived at in the meeting and, in addition, apprise the members of the action taken in respect of–

(a) Residential accommodation for judicial officers;

(b) The process for the recruitment of staff at the district level; and

(c) Provision of additional court rooms on a temporary basis, including making necessary outlays for the expenditure required for converting the premises into court rooms.

The proceedings have now been listed for 5 February 2024.

Case Title: Malik Mazhar Sultan v UP Public Services Commission | Civil Appeal No(s).1867/2006

Citation : 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 1068

Click here to read the order