Lawyers say facilities inadequate and six rooms non-functional in new Pimpri court building

The new court building was constructed at a cost of Rs 9 crore by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). The court earlier functioned from the Morwadi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Soon after the building was inaugurated at Nehrunagar, lawyers practising in the court complained of several inconveniences. One of their key grouses is the lack of air conditioners or air coolers. “There is a lack of proper ventilation in the entire building. As a result, you start sweating the moment you step into the building. And when cases are being heard, the lawyers and judges have to sweat it out as there are no ACs or air coolers. At a time when the temperature is hovering around 40 degrees, it is difficult to put in your best performance by way of argument,” said Sushil Manchankar, former president of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Advocates Bar Association.

Mancharkar alleged that shifting to the new building had achieved little purpose as the same five courts that used to function at Morwadi were now functioning at Nehrunagar. “A total of 11 courts were supposed to function at the new court building. However, only five courts are functioning and the six court rooms are empty. Neither enough judges nor staff have been made available. Already, there are hundreds of cases pending in the Pimpri court. If the situation persists, the pendency of cases will only rise,” said Mancharkar.

In the bar room, Sanjay Mane, another advocate, said no proper sitting arrangements had been made. Neither is drinking water available, he said. “When the building was inaugurated, they should have ensured proper sitting arrangements. One cooler has been installed but there is no sign of an AC being installed. The chairs installed are also limited,” he said.

Mane said encroachers had suddenly sprung up outside the court area. “The encroachers have set up their kiosks overnight. And they are going to expand soon. Action needs to be taken against them immediately or else, they will pose a major problem in the future,” he said.

Mancharkar said the canteen also remained non-functional. “Lawyers and clients trooping into the court premises have to struggle to get canteen facilities. Hotels and eateries are located away from the court premises,” he said.

Mancharkar said the lawyers had set up a Noble Advocates Trust to take up their issues with the Bombay High Court and the district court. “The trust will actively campaign for ensuring facilities for judges, lawyers and clients on the court premises. We will meet the chief justice of the Bombay High Court and also the district judge and urge them to speedily address our problems,” he said.

Mane said the lawyers were told that there would be more courts in the new building. “However, in the new building, six court rooms are vacant. It is important that permission is taken from the Bombay High Court and the state government as early as possible to start the new courts so as to dispose of the pending cases,” he said.

The new court building is set up on about one acre of land and is exactly opposite to the Annasaheb Magar Stadium in the Nehrunagar area, which is under renovation.

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PCMC joint municipal commissioner Chandrakant Indalkar said, “As far as new courts are concerned, the issue is taken care of by the Bombay High Court and the state government. As for the complaints regarding the facilities, we will take them up on priority.”