Former Bar Association presidents move Bombay High Court seeking installation of AC in Bar rooms

Five former presidents of the Advocates' Association of Western India (AAWI) have moved the Bombay High Court seeking installation of air conditioning system in the lawyers' Bar rooms situated within the High Court premises. .The petition filed by Senior Advocates Rajiv Patil, Shirish Gupte, Ashok Mundargi, Prasad Dhakephalkar and advocate Balkrishna Joshi was mentioned on Wednesday before a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor.Advocate General Dr Birendra Saraf informed the bench that a government resolution had been passed on October 3, 2023 which has approved the installation of the air conditioning system. The division bench is likely to hear the petition on November 6. .The petition filed through advocate RD Suryawanshi stated that the High Court administration installed vents or exhaust systems outside the bar rooms causing the temperatures to rise in the room. While some air conditioners were installed in 2015-16, the same were not used or serviced and became non-functional after 2020. The Bar members took efforts to repair the machines but to no avail. The court administration also maintained air conditioners within court rooms, but did not pay attention to Bar rooms."Today there is no proper or healthy ventilation in the Bar rooms and due to the exhausts of air conditioners of court rooms, Bar rooms have become inhabitable for human beings," the petition stated. .The advocates addressed a representation to the Maharashtra government on June 6, 2023 seeking approval for ₹4.31 crore for the new air conditioning system.The government approved the installation on October 3, 2023 and granted funds of ₹3.76 crore for the installation of the system.The lawyers however pointed out that though the approval had been granted to the project, the same may not be completed in near future and the plight of advocates will remain the same. .The petition has sought directions to respondent authorities to immediately install the new air conditioning system in the Bar rooms of the AAWI.