Gurugram : The District Bar Association (DBA), Gurugram, has issued a strong warning to the Public Works Department (PWD), stating that advocates will enter and resume work in Court Halls No. 1, 2 and 3 from July 1, if the authorities fail to reopen the facilities at the earliest.
Judicial work at the Gurugram district court complex has been significantly disrupted since a fire broke out in the record room on May 24. Following the incident, access to certain portions of the court building was restricted due to concerns over structural safety, leading to the closure of several court halls and inconvenience to lawyers and litigants alike.
The warning was issued by DBA President Chander Kant Sharma during an interaction with members of the legal fraternity.
Expressing concern over the prolonged closure of the halls, Sharma said advocates have been facing considerable difficulties in carrying out their professional responsibilities, while litigants are also suffering due to delays in judicial proceedings.
“The association has repeatedly approached the concerned authorities and sought a clear timeline for the reopening of Court Halls No. 1, 2 and 3. However, despite several meetings and representations, no definite schedule has been provided,” Sharma said.
He further stated that if the authorities fail to restore access to the halls within a reasonable timeframe, members of the bar association would collectively enter the premises and resume legal work.
According to Sharma, the continued closure of the halls is adversely affecting the administration of justice and causing hardship to thousands of court users.
Echoing similar concerns, former DBA President Kulbhushan Bhardwaj said the association has made several efforts to persuade the authorities to remove the debris and expedite restoration work.
“Officials have assured us that reconstruction and repair work will be undertaken, but they have failed to provide any prescribed timeline for reopening the affected halls,” he said.
Advocates also argued that the alternative arrangements currently in place are inadequate to accommodate the regular volume of cases.
Meanwhile, PWD officials have maintained that all decisions regarding access to the affected areas are being taken with public safety as the foremost priority. Discussions between Bar representatives and government authorities are expected to continue in the coming days as efforts are made to resolve the issue.