PIL in HC against water fountain at Tis Hazari

New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) A PIL was today moved in the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on construction of a water fountain at a district court and instead utilise the money towards providing basic amenities like water and toilets in district courts and make them disabled friendly.

The matter was mentioned before a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva which had directed that it be placed before the appropriate bench.

Later, the petition was placed before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath which did not hear it as the Chief Justice recused from the matter.

The petition, filed by journalist Pankaj Yadav, is likely to be heard tomorrow by a bench which does not comprise the Chief Justice.

Yadav in his plea has sought that the water fountain construction at Tis Hazari district court, allegedly being built at a cost of Rs 50 lakh to Rs one crore, be stayed.

He has sought stay on the construction saying there is “lack of facilities for the disabled and other litigants who require special assistance in the Delhi district courts and more specifically Tis Hazari courts”.

“Patiala House court which is in the heart of the city does not have any disabled-friendly toilets. There is no lift or ramp leading to the courtrooms located on first floor of the building. Though Tis Hazari and Karkardooma courts have lifts and disabled-toilets, however they cannot be used as the lifts don’t work most of the time and toilets are permanently filthy,” the PIL has said.

“That even more pertinent is the issue of scarcity of water (including drinking water as well as water for cleaning in the toilets) which is ailing all district courts especially Tis Hazari and Karkardooma Courts,” it has said.

It has also said that while disabled-toilets and lifts are there in the new and “better designed” court complexes at Saket, Rohini and Dwarka, they “are always locked”.