Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud has laid down the foundation stone for the new High Court complex in Raika in Jammu.

Speaking on the occasion, the CJI said the step would help in making justice available to every section of the society, especially the underprivileged.

Terming the judicial officers as frontline warriors who should meet the expectations of the common man, the CJI said the foundation of the new High Court and IT initiatives would prove to be significant steps in bringing about reforms in the judicial delivery system.

A National Service and Tracking of Electronic Process (N-STEP) for the district courts of Union Territories, along with a Document Management System (DMS) for the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh was also launched during the event.

Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal joined the event online through video-conferencing. He assured financial assistance to the Jammu and Kashmir government for the development of judicial structure.

The event was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor B.D. Mishra, Supreme Court judges- Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh N. Kotiswar Singh.

Mobile phones with N-STEP were distributed to process servers. A video presentation showcasing the functions of DMS was also displayed on the occasion.

Earlier, the Young Lawyers Association (YLA ) had remarked that relocation of the Jammu Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court from Janipur to Raika would bring hardships for advocates and litigants, especially for females and senior citizens.

It pointed out that relocation was a gross misuse of government exchequer when sufficient space was available in Raika court complex for additional infrastructure such as Consumer Commission, Armed Forces Tribunal and other statutory tribunals required for the different sections for the society.

The letter was written in response to and in consideration of the Association’s proposal of providing access to Lawyers to their respective chambers situated in three Lawyers’ Chambers Block of this Court to primarily enable them to take away their files, books, belongings etc.

The letter has stated that access has been permitted to lawyers but only subject to certain conditions and safeguards:

• The Access will be limited to one lawyer per chamber (or two per chamber where chamber is on twin sharing basis) with one assistance or one junior only from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon (morning phase) and from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm (afternoon phase). No intern or client will be permitted access in the chambers.
• The sanitization and deep cleaning of the use portions of the building will be done by housekeeping in layover period
• The entry and exit of all users and visitors will be properly documented, monitored and regulated by DHCBA and one of the office bearers of DHCBA will remain present in every opened block to ensure compliance of the approved plan. They will submit a report after two weeks so that situation can be reviewed in the next meeting.
• Entry of the vehicles shall be only from Gate No.7 and all vehicles will be parked in the main surface parking with Drivers remaining in the parking area only. Sanitizers and handheld body temperature scanners need to be usedat entrance of all the blocks and proper face masks will be mandatory for all such visiting advocate etc.
• No kiosk facility for tea, coffee etc. or ancillary services in any chamber block will be opened. Common use areas like Bar, Consultation Room etc. will not be opened for use and only the toilets for the floors to be used will be opened.
•  Lift facility will be provided only to the floor in use and will be used only by two persons at a time. Every chamber-user will ensure that garbage is properly disposed of in closed plastic bag in the dustbin provided for in every floor. Signs be put on staircases to indicate one-way use to prevent persons coming face to face in places of multiple staircases

The DHCBA will issue necessary advisory about the manner of use of chambers and also request the elderly members of the Bar to avoid coming to Court till further orders.

-India Legal Bureau