Courts in Patiala House to move to Rouse Avenue

Delhi's Patiala House District Courts Complex will no longer be known by the old name, as it moves to Rouse Avenue, renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, in central Delhi. The Delhi government announced a decision to this effect Monday.

The state government decided to shift the district courts, as the premises have grown too congested.

"Patiala House, which houses the New Delhi District Courts, has become too congested and its ambience has been eclipsed with unauthorised construction. Hence, it was decided to shift the complex to DDU Marg (Rouse Avenue)," Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters.

The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Dikshit.

Patiala House, designed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, is situated at Tilak Marg near India Gate in central Delhi.

The new building to house the courts, to come up at an estimated cost of Rs.306 crore, will have eight floors and 41 court rooms, over a 7.5 lakh sq ft area.

The centrally air-conditioned building would be constructed strictly in accordance with the green building concept, and would have a double-base for parking.

Delhi Law Minister Ramakant Goswami said construction would take around four and a half years.

While there would be separate access areas for judges, lawyers, litigants and convicts, an auditorium with capacity of 200 people would be constructed on the premises.

It will have solar panel for external lighting, covered roof with solar panels and proper traffic management.

The government has taken care of the security aspect and has decided to install an automatic security system in the building, a Delhi government official said.

The government has also approved a proposal to enhance the amount of money granted to about 700 judicial and executive officers for purchase of desktop computers or laptops.