Chandigarh : It is a long pending demand for both Punjab and Haryana state government as well as people in the states to form separate high courts for both states which was desired by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan as well as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter during a recent seminar at Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi in which Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as chief minister of both states and several senior bureaucrats from Ministry of Law were also present. Haryana Chief Minister suggested a separate high court for Union Territory also enabling quick disposal of cases registered at Chandigarh which usually remain hanging under trial during hearings in the case for a long time in busy Punjab and Haryana High Court. Chief Ministers said, in-spite of requirement of expansion in existing High Court complex it is not possible due to limited space.
Information reveals, there are 48 judges in existing Punjab and Haryana High Court at present as against approval of 85 courts in present court complex in which maximum number of 62 courts can be accommodated in present Punjab and Haryana High Court complex, but there will be difficulty in maintaining the records. Information also reveals that numbers of cases almost in every court across the country including Punjab and Haryana states are fast increasing since past few years as such expansion for additional courts is not possible due to acute shortage of space.
While talking to media persons, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter said that after approval by Chief Justice Punjab and Haryana High Court the matter for separate high courts for Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh has been forwarded to government in the centre for final approval since maintaining records of such a large number of cases from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh UT under trial in High Court at present is not possible and likely not only to delay justice but also dumping of large number of pending cases for a long time. He further suggested a separate High Court for Chandigarh to enable quick disposal of cases in Union Territory which usually get much delayed.
Chief Minister Haryana made a request to Chief Justice that revenue records should also be linked to e-Courts where applicable to avoid controversies as well as waste of time. Haryana Chief Minister said, like other states the appointments of legal officers should be made through Haryana Lok Sewa in the state instead of Punjab and Haryana High Court and suggestions by chief minister were appreciated by Chief Justice Punjab and Haryana High Court. Khatter suggested, court’s decisions in local as well as High Court should be made in regional language only.
