The Hindu : New Delhi News : New district courts inaugurated amid protests

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Saturday, Jan 07, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

New district courts inaugurated amid protests

Staff Reporter

Strong police presence, protests by lawyers and a scuffle between the litigants and advocates mark the ceremony

AGITATED: Lawyers demonstrating in front of newly-constructed district courts complex at Rohini, in New Delhi on Friday. The lawyers are protesting against shifting to the new complex. - PHOTO: PTI

NEW DELHI: Amid a strong police presence and protests by lawyers, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday inaugurated the newly constructed Rohini District Courts Complex. The Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Markenday Katju, Justice Virender Jain and Delhi Public Works Department Minister A.K. Walia were present on the occasion. Litigation arising in the jurisdiction of 30 police stations under North and North-West districts of the Capital would now be dealt with in this new court premises that would help in providing justice at the doorstep of the people of these areas who earlier had to go to Tiz Hazari to contest their cases.

A huge posse of policemen had been deployed to prevent the agitating lawyers from gaining access to the court premises. At one point, there was a scuffle between the litigants and the lawyers as the former were demanding entry into the complex to plead their cases. However, police intervention ensured that things did not get out of hand and the inauguration passed off peacefully with the lawyers continuing their protests on the main road outside the court complex near Madhuban Chowk.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Dikshit argued that decentralisation of district courts in Delhi had become imminent due to a large number of litigation cases, congestion at the Tis Hazari courts built way back in 1956 and the rapid increase in the Capital's population. The courts at Tis Hazari, Karkardooma and Patiala House were not able to handle the civil and criminal cases because the population of Delhi had touched 1.4 crores and it was necessary that people were provided justice at their doorsteps rather than shuttling across the city to attend to their cases. The opening of the new complex would also help in providing speedy justice and decrease the large pendency of cases.

She also assured full cooperation of her Government in making the new complex more purposeful and useful for the lawyers and people.

Mr. Justice Katju conveyed his gratitude to the Delhi Government for constructing a modern and well-equipped court complex. The new complex is situated in a 42,600 square metre area with 60 spacious courtrooms and chambers for judges, space for branches, bar rooms, library, facilitation centres, canteen and computer facility..

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