The Punjab and Haryana High Court has been addressing a plea from Vinod Dhatterwal, the secretary of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Employees’ Association. The plea seeks the implementation of a development plan involving the construction of multi-storey buildings to meet additional space requirements.
Court’s Criticism
The court has expressed dissatisfaction with the Chandigarh administration’s handling of the matter, especially in light of previous scathing observations made on December 20, 2019. These observations were related to a 2013 petition against the conduct of Chief Architect Kapil Setia.
Specific Concerns
The court has specifically questioned the delay in implementing the high court’s holistic development plan. It has urged the administration to provide a proposal on why the area behind the MLA hostel/flats petrol pump in Sector 4 cannot be converted into a parking area without compromising the green belt. The court cited existing parking spaces created behind the Punjab Police Headquarters, Kendriya Sadan, and the Old and New UT Secretariat in Sector 9, Chandigarh.
Court’s Warning
The division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, has warned the UT Administration to respond expeditiously. The court has indicated that failure to do so may result in imposing costs and resorting to other harsh measures. The matter is scheduled to be listed again on March 7, 2024.
The Chandigarh Administration is under scrutiny for its expenditure on the new UT Secretariat, with the High Court demanding transparency, prompt action, and a viable proposal for addressing the space and parking issues.
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