Bangalore’s lower courts to get a make-over

Chief Justice of Karnataka, Jagdish Singh Khehar, declined to shift the family courts to the civil court premises amidst the demands of the advocate fraternity on Saturday. The chief justice was on his inspection tour of the facilities in the lower courts spread across the city on Saturday when the Advocates’ Association office bearers put forth their demand.

The advocates demanded that the family court housed at the Mediation Centre on Siddaiah road must be shifted to the civil court complex just behind Cauvery Bhavan. He, however, agreed to shift the labour court from the same building on Siddaiah road to the multi-storeyed building next to the Vikasa Soudha.

The chief justice of the High Court of Karnataka on Saturday expressed his shock and displeasure over the lack of infrastructure and maintenance of the court premises in the city, especially the courts housed in Mayo Hall.

He criticised the administration of the courts in the city. He went around the building and found the toilets dirty, the court halls choking, and also a lack of parking space on the court premises.
He said that the Mayo Hall court needs immediate renovation and maintenance.

The chief justice conducted his surprise visit to the courts in the city following a request from the Advocates’ Association. The visit commenced from the Mayo hall court on MG Road. He inspected the family court and later, the Magistrate court complex on Nrupatunga road.

At the family court, Justice Khehar found that the major problem was a shortage of space, as the building housed both the family and labour court. He also instructed them to occupy the parking lot next to the premises of the Mediation Centre, which is mired in controversy. The permission from the Public Works Department (PWD) will be taken to construct a new building after occupying the parking lot.

At the magistrate court in Nrupatunga road, he found that the lifts in the building were non-functional and took the engineers to task for their negligence. He found that three lifts were sanctioned for the newly constructed building on the premises of the court, but unfortunately, none of them were working. An engineer told the Justice that one lift was under repair and the other one functioning. Justice Khehar ordered him to get the lift repaired by Monday. The other lift should be constructed by February 4, he added.

“I will visit all the lower courts once again. By then, all shortcomings should be set right,” the chief justice said.
The chief justice also suggested an addition of one more floor to the magistrate court complex if the foundation is found to be strong. He asked the engineers to submit a report regarding this by Monday. President of Advocate Association Putte Gowda said that he was hopeful that the infrastructure shortages will be set right soon.