Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS) Air-conditioners, CCTV cameras, new furniture and amenities - Tis Hazari, Delhi’s oldest district court complex, is in for a much needed facelift with the government giving its nod to a proposal mooted two years ago.

The renovation for the complex is set to be completed by March 2012, according to Delhi Bar Association president Rajiv Khosla.

Over 10,000 litigants daily visit the court complex, spread over around 26.4 acres. It houses five buildings, including the main court building. It has 125 courts and 10 mediation cells, apart from a consumer and sub-divisional magistrate court.

The nod for the project came after a meeting held Saturday between representatives of the Delhi government, administrative department of district court and the bar association.

“The government has approved the proposal of renovation of Tis Hazari courts in a meeting held on Saturday and around 125 court rooms will be equipped with air-conditioners by March 2012,” Khosla told IANS.

The CCTV cameras will keep an eye on anti-social elements, trouble makers and terrorists.

“Despite being one of Asia’s biggest courts complex, Tis Hazari has not undergone much repair or renovation since its inception in 1958,” said Khosla.

Damaged walls and peeling plaster, non-functioning lifts, defunct water coolers and damaged seats for litigants and witnesses outside court rooms would all be repaired, he said.

“A proposal for building multi-storeyed parking lots was also made by lawyers before the decision makers,” he said.

The news on the proposed facelift has brought smiles to the faces of thousands of litigants as well as lawyers.

Public prosecutor Mohammed Shakeel said the renovation will improve the efficiency in the court complex.

“Most of the witnesses come from far-away places during summer. The cool court rooms will provide them some relief,” said Shakeel.

Agreed 35-year-old litigant Rakesh Bishnoi: “As compared to other courts, the Tis Hazari complex isn’t well equipped and I am sure that the refurbishing job will give a new lease of life to the complex.”

“The CCTV cameras will surely boost security,” he added.

However, there were some skeptics too.

“This step should have been taken much earlier, but we hope the deadline is met by the authorities. We are not sure that the March 2012 deadline is realistic,” advocate K.K. Sharma told IANS.

The construction of the court building began in 1953 and it was inaugurated March 19, 1958. It also houses a post office, three libraries for lawyers and a library for judicial officers.

(Amiya Kumar Kushwaha can be contacted at amiya.k@ians.in)