Himachal HC puts off plan to shift district courts

The bench,in its order,said it failed to understand the reason behind the non-filing of the reply and warned that in case no replies were filed by August 23,it shall be presumed that the government has no objection to the prayer of the Bar Association.

The Association,in its application before the court,had alleged that there was no provision for lawyers’ chambers,shifting of District Consumer Forum and other revenue courts in the Judicial Complex plan,which is detrimental to the interests of the advocates as well as the general public. It demanded that all authorities,Tribunals and Fora be first made functional and shifted. Till then,the present district courts will not shifted to the proposed site and sufficient place be made available for lawyers’ chambers and car parking.

The home department had stated that around Rs 25.10 crore had been spent till date in the construction of Judicial Complex. The natural strata where the foundation was laid was at a much lower depth than was anticipated earlier. This had increased the depth of the foundation and resulted in an increase in the depth of the retaining wall. So,space had to be made for an extra basement floor in about 75 per cent area of Block ‘B’. Later,the basement floor of Block ‘A’ had to be increased from about 20 per cent to 60 per cent of floor area. Due to increase in the floor area and deep foundation,the structural design had to be revised,it added.