The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court and a dozen more courts are functioning at a “poorly maintained” shopping complex for nearly two years, according to the advocates, litigants and court staff.
After theMoore Market was gutted in a major fire accident in 1985, the Chennai Corporation had reconstructed the complex with 850 shops selling books, antiques and other things. When it was decided to renovate and carry out repair works at the Egmore Court complex, these courts were shifted to the Moore Market also known as Lily Pond Complex near Ripon Buildings. Since August 2015, these courts had been functioning from here.
Poor parking space
“There is no adequate space for parking vehicles of advocates and judges. It becomes too congested as litigants also have to park their vehicles outside,” S. Bharathy, joint secretary, Egmore Court Advocates’ Association said.
On occasions, the magistrates had to get down from their vehicles on the middle of the road and reach the courts as the police failed to regulate traffic on the stretch leading to the complex. Autorickshaws and share autos arriving at or leaving the Central Railway Station compound the traffic problem manifold by choking the stretch.
There were signs of open defecation around the court complex as well. There were two lifts but both were not operational. Broken liqour bottles could also be seen on the staircases.
“Noise pollution is high. Apart from the traffic blare, the sound from the speakers from the nearby houses are a nuisance during court proceedings,” J. Chandan Babu, President of Egmore Court Advocates’ Association said.
“There are not enough chairs. And there is not even drinking water facility,” he said adding that birds and fish were being sold in the ground floor of the court complex adding to the cacophony.
Rampant encroachments around the building had also affected free movement. “The pavement around the eastern side of the building is being used for bathing and washing clothes. Often, stray dogs walk down the corridors,” said a court staff.
“After visiting the court complex, we have instructed authorities concerned to keep the complex clean,” a top official of the Madras High Court said.
“If the lawyers have any grievance, it will be duly redressed as and when brought to our notice. We are constructing a new building at Egmore and the construction will be completed within three months,” he said.
