Absence of air-conditioners in the court rooms of Tis Hazari and Patiala House court complexes here has created unhealthy and inefficient working conditions, which, in turn, has led to harassment of the visiting litigants, staff, lawyers and judicial officers presiding over the courts. The issue relating to the need for installation of ACs in the two important court complexes in the Capital, 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.
In the RTI reply supplied to lawyer Amit Sahni, the government authorities said there were “no written guidelines” regarding installation of ACs. However, the RTI reply said the work in this regard was in progress.
Mr. Sahni, in his public interest writ petition moved in the High Court, said 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 the pace of disposal of pending cases.
Mr. Sahni 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.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw sought the response of District Judges of Tis Hazari and Patiala House on the petition earlier this week. The Court directed the counsel present for the two District Judges, who directly or indirectly manage the building maintenance committees of their respective districts, to take instructions on the issue.
Posting the matter for hearing on April 25, the Court asked the counsel if it was possible to provide relief to thousands of litigants, court staff, lawyers and presiding officers of lower courts through the installation of ACs. To this, the counsel replied that the work was in progress.
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.
“For instance, in Tis Hazari court, ACs are not installed in rooms 356, 357, 361, 361A, etc.,” said the petition, while pointing out that AC had become a basic necessity for efficient working and it was installed in all government offices, public sector undertakings and private sector offices for the past decade.
It is essential to provide an efficient working environment in all court rooms as this would speed up disposal of pending cases
