A six-storey district court complex started functioning from Saturday with the fire and emergency services department giving conditional clearance to the building.
“Just a few days ago the clearance was given with certain conditions. Money has been released to carry out work necessary to fulfil those conditions,” K. Bhakthavatsala, the Administrative Judge of Dakshina Kannada district, told The Hindu on Saturday.
Earlier Mr. Bhakthavatsala inaugurated the district court complex – the construction of which started in 2005. Around Rs.42 crore has been spent so far for the complex that will house as many as 30 court halls.
The inauguration of the complex had been delayed because of the absence of Fire Department’s clearance. Mangalore Bar Association president Ashok Ariga said about nine court halls were ready for occupation. Principal District and Sessions Judge B.V. Prakash was likely to move to the new complex in a week’s time. Gradually other courts will also move. “We want six courts functioning on the City Corporation premises to move here as early as possible.”
Apart from the Principal District and Sessions Court, there are as many as 19 courts that will be functioning in the new complex. It includes five sessions courts, a Labour Court, a Family Court, four Judicial Magistrate of First Class courts, four Chief Judicial Magistrate courts and four Munsiff courts. The Permanent Lok Adalat, which is located off the M.G. Road, and the District Legal Services Authority office will also function from the complex.
At the function High Court Judge Abdul Nazeer asked District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai and Health Minister U.T. Khader to prevail upon government to sanction funds for the construction of the new complex for advocates.
