HC imposes Rs 1 L cost on govt for failing to build new court complex

The Bombay High Court Wednesday imposed a cost of Rs one lakh on the Maharashtra government for failing to construct a new district sessions court complex in Sangli district within the prescribed time-frame.

A division bench of Justices A S Oka and M S Sonak directed the government to pay the amount to the Sangli Bar Association in a month.

"The association shall use this amount for setting up a permanent fund to provide legal aid to poor and needy litigants and for holding literacy camps in villages," the court said.

The bench passed its judgement in a petition filed by the association challenging the government's decision to only construct one wing of the sessions court and refusal to construct 'B' wing of the court.

After the petition was filed in 2015, the state government issued a resolution on August 1, 2016, approving construction of both the wings and made budgetary allocation for the same.

While 'A' wing of the court was to be constructed by August 2017, 'B' wing was to be completed by December this year.

The state government later informed the court that work on 'A' wing of the building was still on and would be completed only by October last year.

The court in its order passed Wednesday noted that till date the government has not completed the work on both the wings.

"The state government has not abided by the time-frame set by it and this court. In such matters pertaining to setting up of courts and construction of the same, the government should on its own do the work and also provide additional facilities," the court said in its order.

It added that, however, the government has failed to do so and has not even complied with court orders.

"Hence, we feel that exemplary cost of Rs one lakh needs to be imposed on the state government," the court said.