The district courts of Tis Hazari and Patiala House in the Capital will shortly get air conditioners, providing much-needed relief to the visiting litigants, staff, lawyers and judicial officers presiding over the courts. The installation of ACs in the two important court complexes of Delhi has begun and the work is likely to be completed soon.
The issue of installation of ACs in the two court buildings, visited by thousands of litigants every day, has been brought to the Delhi High Court by a lawyer who had earlier sought information in the matter through the Right to Information Act. The High Court was told that the absence of air-conditioners in the court rooms had created unhealthy and inefficient working conditions.
The District Judges of Tis Hazari and Patiala House have informed a Division Bench of the High Court through their counsel that the air conditioning work had been carried out on the civil side of each court room and the remaining tasks would be completed shortly.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw, which had sought the response of District Judges on January 14, disposed of the public interest writ petition moved by lawyer Amit Sahni on the subject earlier this week with the directions for completion of the air conditioning work without fail.
In the RTI reply supplied to Mr. Sahni, the government authorities had said there were “no written guidelines” regarding installation of ACs.
In his petition, Mr. Sahni pointed out that all district courts in Delhi, except Tis Hazari and Patiala House, were centrally air-conditioned, while it was essential to provide an efficient working environment in all court rooms, as this would speed up disposal of pending cases.
The petitioner also contended that the consideration of seniority in providing the basic facility of AC was bad in law and against the principles laid down in the Constitution. The District Judges directly or indirectly manage the building maintenance committees of their respective courts.
Mr. Sahni said he had noticed that in Tis Hazari court, ACs were installed in the offices of almost all the clerical staff, but surprisingly, not in all the court rooms.
“The absence of ACs in court rooms had created unhealthy and inefficient working conditions”
