Bar Assn resists relocation of court complex to city outskirts | Lawyers flag distance, lack of Advocates' Bhavan at new site

Davangere: The advocates’ resistance to shifting the court complex from Devaraj Urs Layout to the new building near Tungabhadra Layout on the Harihar-Davangere stretch of NH 48, even before its completion, has sparked debate over the proposed relocation.While advocates have openly expressed reluctance to move to the new building, citing its distance from the city and the narrow court halls, owners of residential layouts in and around the new court complex are hopeful that its relocation will not not only boost property values but also also accelerate the city’s expansion towards the area.Davangere Court Relocation Agitation Committee has decided to submit a memorandum to ministers S S Mallikarjun and K S Basavanthappa, asking them to urge the state government to hand over the new court building to other departments, approve the construction of additional facilities on the premises of the existing court building and release funds for the same.Advocates’ BhavanDistrict Bar Association President T R Guru Basavaraj told DH, “We have submitted a revised plan of the Advocates’ Bhavan with a two-storey structure to the High Court building committee. It is yet to be approved.”He said advocates were not willing to shift to the new court complex unless an Advocates’ Bhavan was constructed. The government would have to release around Rs 12 crore for the purpose. “Of the 1,200 registered advocates, around 700 are practising, while more than 1,000 people visit the court complex every day. Therefore, we need a bhavan that can accommodate advocates and visitors.” On the issue of relocation, he said the advocates would abide by the directions in the High Court.Speaking to DH, site engineer Kiran said Tumakuru-based Apoorva Constructions Private Limited began construction of the new court complex in 2021 at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore. The two-storey building has 10 court halls, a computer room, a judge’s chamber and toilets.Under the second phase, another floor with five additional court halls and an Advocates’ Bhavan is to be constructed, but the work order for the second phase is yet to be issued. Currently, a group of workers from Bihar is engaged in painting the building red, while tile-laying work is also under way.Long travelsDistrict Bar Association former president L H Arun Kumar told DH that the new court complex is about 12 km away from the existing building, which would inconvenience clients, particularly those coming from rural areas and economically weaker backgrounds. He also pointed out that the court halls are narrow, and there is no Advocates’ Bhavan at the new complex.”The new building could have been constructed within the city limits. As the revenue courts and offices of the tahsildar, assistant commissioner and deputy commissioner are located in the city, a court complex within Davangere city would have been  more convenient and beneficial for both the public and advocates,” he said. ‘Too late now’Senior advocate Anis Pasha said it was too late to oppose the relocation as the  new building had already been constructed. While there were issues with the building, he said, the time to raise objections was when the decision to construct the new court complex was taken.”Advocates should have opposed the proposed location and put pressure on the government to change it when it at that stage. However, that did not happen as advocates were divided over the relocation,” he said.Pasha said it was initially proposed to construct the court complex on land near the deputy commissioner’s office, and land had even been identified for the purpose on Avaragere Road in the city. However, the District Bar Association id not pursue the proposal seriously, he said. “Hence, our opposition will not yield results now,” he added.When DH contacted Deputy Commissioner G M Gangadhara Swamy, he said he had not received any appeal from the Bar Association in this regard. Besides, the government has to take a call on this matter, he added.A view of the court hall in the new court complex which is under construction near Tungabhadra Layout on the outskirts of Davangere city.  T R Guru Basavaraj , District Bar Association PresidentWe have submitted a revised plan for a two-storey Advocates’ Bhavan to the High Court Building Committee and approval is awaited. Unless the Advocates’ Bhavan is constructed advocates are not willing to shift to the new court complex. The government will have to release around Rs 12 crore for the project.Kiran, Site EngineerTumakuru-based Apoorva Constructions Private Limited began construction of the new court complex in 2021 at a cost of Rs 25 crore. The two-storey building comprises 10 court halls a computer room a judge’s chamber and toilets. Under the second phase another floor with five additional court halls and an Advocates’ Bhavan is to be constructed but the work order for the second phase is yet to be issued.Tumakuru-based Apoorva Constructions Private Limited began construction of the new court complex in 2021 at a cost of Rs 25 crore. The two-storey building comprises 10 court halls a computer room a judge’s chamber and toilets. Under the second phase another floor with five additional court halls and an Advocates’ Bhavan is to be constructed but the work order for the second phase is yet to be issued.’Court complex will boost devpt’Land developer Sachin Golasangi said the presence of government offices and institutions on the outskirts of the city would contribute to its expansion and development. He said shifting the court complex would also help ease traffic congestion within the city. “KSRTC would provide city bus services to the area once the complex becomes functional. Advocates setting up their offices will boost commercial establishments there. The establishment of offices by advocates would also encourage the growth of commercial establishments. Above all property values of residential plots in and around the area are likely to increase” he added.

Source: Deccan Herald