
Space-starved HC looks to IT Park for expansion
2
Chandigarh: In a significant development, the Punjab and Haryana high court, grappling with a space crunch due to rising load on existing buildings, has asked the Chandigarh administration to explore providing an alternative site for the high court in the IT Park area within the city.
HC has made these observations after noticing that the proposed land to the HC in Sarangpur village may not be viable due to vehicular congestion in that area. The IT Park is close to the existing premises of HC.
"UT administration is further directed to explore searching an alternative site for construction of new building for the High Court in IT Park area within Chandigarh. The said direction is being given since 15 acres of land allotted to the high court and the additional 33 acres of land proposed to be allotted to the HC in Sarangpur village may not be practical since access to the village is restricted and often blocked by the traffic congestion at PGIMER square," the HC has observed in its order released on Monday.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry passed these orders while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vinod Dhatterwal of the Punjab and Haryana high court Employees Association and others. The petitioner in this case had submitted that the existing building/premises of the HC is not able to bear the load, as there is hardly any space to accommodate more than five lakh judicial files which are pending in the HC.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Get ₹2Cr life cover@ ₹700 p.m.
ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan
Get Quote
Undo
by Taboola
by Taboola
The matter has now been adjourned for Aug 1 for further hearing.
Around 10,000 lawyers, around 3300 court employees, around 3000 advocates' clerks, employees of advocate general offices of Haryana and Punjab, security personnel, unaccountable number of litigants and other employees of different departments are visiting HC daily. With nearly 10,000 cars and thousands of two wheelers, the existing building/premises of the HC is not able to bear this load.
Even a multilevel parking constructed with the budget of around Rs 976.75 lakhs in 2011 is not sufficient to reduce vehicular congestion in HC complex.
Even the HC needs additional courtrooms to meet the sanctioned strength of 85 judges. At present, the courtrooms for the judges are less than the requisite numbers.
Verandah to be completed by Aug 25
During the hearing of the matter, the UT administration sought extension of time for construction of verandah in front of the chief justice's courtroom.
Senior standing counsel for UT administration assured that revised drawings of the said verandah have been finalized and the construction work shall be completed by Aug 25. On UT's assurance, the bench refrained from passing any directions.
Kutcha parking
The HC has been informed that revised drawings relating to land scaping of kutcha parking were prepared and are in the process of being revised and the said work shall be completed within one week and submitted to the high court for approval.
"Let revised drawings of landscaping of kutcha parking be filed within one week as assured before the building committee of the HC which is requested to approve the same as expeditiously as possible after considering the suggestions of the Bar," the HC has observed.
Building at Sector-17
With regard to the allotment of building in Sector-17, Chandigarh for administrative branches of the HC, the UT administration assured that furnishing work of four floors of the said building including basement shall be completed and the same shall be handed over to the HC.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Currency watch: Rupee rises 16 paise to 85.76 against dollar; crude oil slide & weak greenback lift sentiment
The rupee appreciated by 16 paise to settle at 85.76 against the US dollar on Tuesday, helped by a weaker greenback and softer crude oil prices globally. However, persistent foreign fund outflows and uncertainty surrounding the ongoing India-US trade negotiations limited the currency's upward movement, according to forex dealers. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 85.97 and moved in a tight range between 85.75 and 85.97 during the session. It eventually ended the day at 85.76, recovering from its previous close of 85.92, PTI reported. "The Reserve Bank of India has been guarding the rupee at the 86.00 level and on Tuesday also ensured that the rupee opens a tad higher than 86," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director at Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP. He added, "For tomorrow (Wednesday), we expect the rupee to be in the range of 85.50–86.10 with expectations of more flows." Dollar, crude prices ease The dollar index, which tracks the US currency against a basket of six peers, declined 0.11% to 97.97, supporting emerging market currencies. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was down 0.43% to $68.91 per barrel in futures trade, reducing pressure on India's import bill. Trade talks and equity flows in focus The gains in the rupee were tempered by ongoing concerns over the outcome of bilateral trade negotiations between India and the US. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo A team from India's commerce ministry is currently in Washington for the latest round of discussions on the proposed bilateral trade agreement. The four-day meeting began on Monday and is set to conclude on Thursday. M eanwhile, India's merchandise exports held steady at $35.14 billion in June, while the trade deficit narrowed to a four-month low of $18.78 billion, according to government data released Tuesday. On the domestic equities front, both benchmark indices ended in the green. The Sensex rose 317.45 points to close at 82,570.91, and the Nifty advanced 113.50 points to settle at 25,195.80. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers on the day, purchasing equities worth Rs 120.47 crore, according to stock exchange data. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now


Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
When Rs 12 beats Rs 175: Bengaluru founder snubs costly auto prices, uses cheaper option to protest ‘stupid fares'
Swapnil Jain , co-founder of Ather Energy , did not expect a normal Monday morning commute to kick up such noise. He had both his vehicles parked at the office, so when he needed to get back, he tried the usual option. 'For various reasons, both my vehicles were parked at the office and I had no ride. Tried booking an auto because it is only 4 kms, but the price was ₹175. Heck with it, just decided to take a bus to office at ₹12,' he posted on X. And that was that. Or so he thought. 'Protesting stupid auto prices' Calling it what it was, Jain wrote, 'This is me protesting against the stupid auto prices.' — swapniljain89 (@swapniljain89) Live Events The phrase struck a chord. In Bengaluru, short auto rides turning costly is nothing new. Jain's public refusal felt relatable for many. His ₹12 bus ticket said more than a rant ever could. UPI payment, no loose change There was more to this than the fare. Jain pointed out that BMTC's UPI option makes life easier. No awkward wait for coins. No hunting for change in the pocket. He also gave a nod to Switch Mobility's electric buses . Comfortable enough, he said. A slight lag in acceleration did not bother him much. He figured it was down to shifting passenger weight. Bengaluru joins in The post caught on. Others began to chip in with their own stories. One user wrote, 'BMTC has been my primary mode for the last 1 year. Other than the sudden acceleration or braking, no complaints. No issue with frequency (500D), and no last-mile connectivity issues either.' Someone else shared, 'Use the Namma BMTC app for live tracking. It's not perfect, but it works. Pair it with UPI and you're sorted.' Another liked Jain's small stand, saying, 'I like how you don't waste money on simple things. It's not just about saving ₹100- ₹150, it's about staying grounded in the roots we come from.' Of course, not everyone clapped along. One user poked fun at Jain's scooters. 'Same way we don't want to waste money on your scooters that stop when there's a pillion rider. You call that derating? Hilarious!' the user said. Someone found fault with the buses too. 'Why can't the floor be flat? Too many steps inside, feels like climbing into an auditorium,' read another reply. Others dropped tips. 'You can get daily passes through the Tummoc app too. Also, airport buses on the BMTC app are really accurate.' Under it all, this was not only about a short bus ride. Jain's post pulled out an old complaint Bengaluru commuters share quietly every day. Auto fares that feel random. The relief when the bus turns up on time. Small fixes like paying through an app. 'Needed a rick in the rain, guess who's charging Rs 175 for 3 km? Rapido!' another user added, showing this is not one man's story. Swapnil Jain's choice to spend twelve rupees instead of one seventy-five will not overhaul Bengaluru's transport overnight. But it has pushed a simple idea back into the open. Sometimes a bus ride is worth more than it costs. And a small protest can make people pause and think before hailing the next pricey rick.


Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
About 1.4 lakh new PMJDY a/cs opened under financial inclusion saturation campaign: FinMin
About 1.4 lakh new Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in the past fortnight under the nationwide financial inclusion saturation campaign , the finance ministry said on Tuesday. The Department of Financial Services (DFS), under the finance ministry, has launched a three-month nationwide saturation campaign, effective from July 1 to September 30, 2025, to bolster the outreach of flagship schemes, such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana ( PMJDY ), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY), an official statement said. This campaign seeks to achieve comprehensive coverage across all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), ensuring that every eligible citizen gets the intended benefits of these transformative schemes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Nearly 1.4 lakh new Jan Dhan accounts have been opened and more than 5.4 lakh new enrolments have been recorded under three Jan Suraksha Schemes in the past fortnight, the statement said. In two weeks, a total of 43,447 camps have been conducted across various districts to facilitate beneficiary enrolment under key schemes and promote financial literacy . Live Events The campaign is scheduled to continue until September 30, 2025, covering approximately 2.70 lakh GPs and ULBs, the statement added.