Pune family court hits roadblock

The various amenities proposed at the new family court building being set up on government godown premises in Shivajinagar, Pune near the district court may not be provided.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has granted permission to construct only one-and-a-half-storey building with a basement instead of a three-storey building.

Reasoning that there is no stipulated parking place for the basement, ground floor and three upper floors, the PMC allowed the public works department (PWD) to construct only basement, ground floor and one-and-a-half upper floor. As per the old plan, the family court premises was to be set up with facilities like bar rooms, rooms for counsellors, library and facilitation centres and a commercial bank if possible.

According to a PWD official, the old plan was presented to the civic body for seeking permission, but the PMC citing lack of parking space for a three-storey building allowed construction of only one-and-a-half-storey building. The revised plan will have parking in basement and ground floor as well.

Later, the PWD offered a modified plan by making some changes for parking, to the PMC and started the construction by aiming to build around 2,000 square metre built up area on 3,007 square metre land in September 2009. The project is supposed to be completed in two years but at present, only the basement and ground floor is ready.

Meanwhile, the PWD approached the town planning department of the state government with the old plan to seek permission for extra construction. It argued that the district court is across the road where ample parking space is available and both the premises are going to be joined by a subway.

It also said that clients and lawyers who visit the court, do not stay in the court for long hours. Hence, there is a continuous flow of vehicles.

The proposal was sent to the town and planning department six months ago and the PWD is awaiting the sanction as a special case as the building is not to be used for commercial purposes and is completely owned by the government.

Pune Family Court Lawyers’ Association president Prafulla Bhavsar said, “The reduced built up area will badly affect planned amenities like toilets, playrooms for children of litigants and waiting rooms for visitors.’’

However, president of Pune Bar Association, Dhananjay Taur said,  “We are planning to meet chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who is also the guardian minister of Pune, to discuss the issue.’’