HC directs Punjab, Haryana Chief Secys to virtually appear in judges’ accommodation matter

Making it clear acute shortage of accommodations was adversely affecting the “quality of administration of justice”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Chief Secretaries of both Punjab and Haryana to virtually remain present during the hearing.

Observing that the shortage hampered justice delivery, particularly with a new batch of civil judges joining within two months, the court granted a week to the states to file affidavits, failing, which coercive steps would be taken against “any of the functionaries of Punjab and Haryana”.

The Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal was hearing petitions filed against the State of Punjab and other respondents by District Bar Association, Malerkotla, and another petition through counsel S.S. Behl, Gaurav Vir Singh Behl and Abhijeet Partap Singh Chaudhary. UT was represented by advocates Abhinav Sood and Mehndi Singhal.

The Bench asserted: “The problem of acute shortage of space not only in regard to courtrooms, but also in regard to residential accommodation of judicial officers in the majority of districts of the States of Punjab and Haryana was the subject matter before the court”.

The Bench added the court was apprised by the UT Administration of a “detailed and scientific policy prevalent in the Union Territory, Chandigarh, for allotment of residential accommodation to the executive as well as the judicial officers”.

“The requirement from the State of Punjab was to identify and make available alternative accommodations to make up for the deficiencies of courtrooms and residences for judicial officers by earmarking and requisitioning the State buildings lying vacant in all the districts of Punjab which are suitable and befitting for Court Rooms/Judges’ residence,” the Bench observed.