Chandigarh: Demand for a separate High Court for Haryana is although a long pending issue, but in fact serious efforts have never been taken in this regard so far by the government who so ever ruled over in the state, except few political leaders raising demand prior to the elections only to attract vote bank. However, the former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had suggested government in centre for a separate High Court for Haryana by dividing the existing Punjab and Haryana High Court in two parts, similar to the Secretariate building in Chandigarh in which both Haryana as well as Punjab government offices are functioning separately under a roof by dividing the area, which will save huge amount to be spent over procurement of land and on construction of building, he said.
Information reveals that more than 6,50,000 court cases are lying pending under trial in Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, which include nearly 40% cases belonging to Haryana state. Information also reveals that nearly 8 lakh cases are lying pending under trial in Punjab courts for a long time and nearly 14 lakh cases are lying pending under trial since a long time in Haryana courts, delaying justice to the people. Information also reveals that a proposal was made to set up a High Court Bench in Southern part of Haryana state for the convenience of the people residing in the area at a distant place from Chandigarh arriving to attend appearance in the case in the High Court, but the proposal remain dumped in files without any action for a long time due to lack of interest by the government as well as senior political leaders in the state.
Information reveals, presently there are 55 judges providing justice to the people in Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh, whereas according to the workload there is a requirement of 85 judges in this court. The issue of separate capital and a separate High Court for Haryana has been going on for the past many years, in which neither Haryana nor Punjab state are prepared to leave their right on Chandigarh as their capital. Similarly, efforts have been made by the Haryana state government for a separate High Court in the state for a long time but brought no result, since both Punjab and Haryana state governments feel that in case separate High Courts are developed, who will have the right over Chandigarh union territory? As such political leaders are not taking interest in this matter, in spite of the fact justice has been delayed to the people having their cases under trial in the High Court since a long time.
