New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi on Friday flagged the “dilapidated condition” of the Rohini court building and asked officials to prepare a draft for an annual maintenance contract for the complex by December 30.
In her note to Principal Secretary (PWD), the minister said she visited the Rohini court complex on Thursday after receiving several grievances from judges and lawyers regarding poor management of the facilities present there.
“I was shocked to see the dilapidated condition of the court building,” she said in the note.
The entire building had major seepage issues with water percolating through the walls and the ceiling, Atishi added.
“Due to the seepage, the walls were damp and dirty with paint and cement chipping off. The false ceilings were also in a bad condition. Several panels were missing and wires were hanging overhead. The court rooms and lawyers’ chambers lacked proper maintenance,” read the note. The minister also flagged the unhygienic conditions of the washrooms, especially the women’s toilets. “Cleanliness of the building was also a major issue… I visited the basement of the building, which was in a poor state. Electrical fittings were missing. The stairs were poorly lit and broken,” she added.
The Rohini court complex is used by a large number of judges, lawyers and their judicial staff, Atishi said, while underlining that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure they do not face any inconvenience while discharging their duties. The court is also visited by thousands of people on a daily basis who come to resolve their legal issues, she said.
“People who come to the court are basically aggrieved and come looking for justice. To inconvenience them further would be inhuman. Therefore, it is very important to provide and maintain basic amenities such as proper court rooms, chambers, clean toilets in these complexes,” she added. “In the light of the above, the Principal Secretary (PWD) is directed to put up a draft of a comprehensive annual maintenance contract for maintaining the Rohini court complex in consultation with Principal Secretary (Law) by December 30. Thereafter, all court complexes in Delhi need to be maintained on similar lines,” the note said.
The minister said all courts should be well-maintained with basic amenities and this is the joint responsibility of the PWD and the Law Department. “Majority of these issues can be simply resolved by having a comprehensive facility management system, in the form of an annual maintenance contract. The facility manager can look into the day-to-day issues faced by the judges, lawyers and general public and resolve it in real time,” she noted.
The facility management system would be responsible for cleanliness, basic maintenance and other related issues of the building, she added. PTI SLB RPA
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