Minister for Law S. Suresh Kumar inspected the construction work for the eight-storied District Court Complex here on Saturday and instructed the contractor to complete the work by the end of the year.
During his interaction with lawyers and Ashok G. Nijagannavar, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Mr. Kumar was informed that even if construction reached completion, getting approval from the Fire Services Department would be a problem.
“The department said there needs to be a 12 metre approach road to the complex. Currently, the road (on Court Hill Road) width is only 6m. The expansion will be difficult as the road is on a hill face,” said Mr. Nijagannavar. Mr. Kumar said a solution would be found soon in consultation with the Public Works Department officials.
The Rs. 18.25-crore project, which was commissioned in 2005 saw construction starting only in 2008. The new integrated building would house a total of 30 courts including family courts, labour courts, consumer courts, courts that currently operate from the corporation building and the district court.
Mangalore Bar Association, headed by S.P. Chengappa requested sanctioning of funds for the construction of a Vakilara Bhavan nearby. “Even though this complex is being built after numerous protests by the advocates here, the Bar Council has not even been allotted a room,” Mr. Chengappa said. He said, a plot nearby had been identified and urged the Minister to release Rs. 6 crore needed for its construction.
