Boycotting court proceedings here on Monday, advocates, under the banner of the District Advocates Association, launched an indefinite dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner demanding allotment of a land to constrict full-fledged district court complex in Yadgir.
The advocates, led by Mahipal Reddy Itagi, president of the Advocates Association, shouted slogans against State government for not considering their demand seriously.
They said that the district court was functioning on an old premises, which was constructed during the Hyderabad Nizam administration, without adequate space, and court halls were always witnessing a crowd due to the congested space.
In 2010, there was a proposal made to build a new premises for the court on 25 acres of land near Warkanalli Road on the outskirts of the city. But, the proposal has remained on paper after a few site owners filed a writ petition before the High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru, seeking higher compensation for land acquisition.
Even as the matter was pending before the High Court, the district administration promised to provide 20 acres of land near Mudnal Village Cross. Now, that land has been allotted for the construction of residential quarters for revenue officials, Mr. Itagi told media persons.
He added that this had forced them to boycott court proceedings and stage a dharna.
Meanwhile, Khushboo Goel Chowdharay, Deputy Commissioner, who visited the venue of the dharna, assured the advocates of sending a detailed report to the government for action and requested them to withdraw the dharna. But, the advocates refused to accept the offer saying that they would continue their dharna until a specific date for allotment of land was given.
Gangadhar Awanti and S.B. Patil, senior advocates, highlighted the condition of the old building. They explained to the Deputy Commissioner the need for constructing a new district court complex here as the number of cases had increased considerably and the court halls were always packed with advocates and litigant public due to congested place.
The advocates then formed a human chain near Shastri Chowk and blocked traffic for a while.
Narasingrao Kulkarni, Devindrappa, G. Bhimarao, Govind Rathod, M.M. Krantimani, Ashwin, Mahipalreddy Hattikuni and others participated in the dharna.