[Judicial Vista] Supreme Court corridors horribly crowded, we don't use them: Justice Vineet Saran

The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the Central government to look into the inadequacy in the infrastructure, and shortcomings of the Supreme Court building, and come up with a plan to address the issue. .A Bench of Justices Vineet Saran and JK Maheshwari also highlighted how the Supreme Court corridors are horribly overcrowded, which prompts the judges of the top court to stay away from it. "We don't go around in corridors, it’s horrible!" Justice Saran said.Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta concurred with the bench stating, "Yes all the more for senior people."The Court was hearing a petition by Supreme Court lawyer Ardhendumauli Kumar Prasad seeking the creation of 'Judicial Vista' around the existing premises of the top court, as well as a central authority to fund judicial infrastructure.The Court on Tuesday said that it cannot solve the problem, but can only guide the Central government towards solving it. It clarified that it was not seeking an immediate resolution."We said government should take a call. You can plan for it, not in one month or 3 months or so. It is not for Court to solve the problem. It is for the Court to guide but the issue has to be solved by you," the Bench said.SG Tushar Mehta informed the Court that he was in touch with the Central government but such decisions cannot be taken immediately. "It can’t be done overnight. Planning has to be done. Central government can do it", Justice Saran noted. SG Mehta clarified that the government does not see the matter as an adversarial one. "There’s no adversarial approach at all," he said. The petitioner who appeared in-person argued that the Judicial Vista would 'sort us' for the next 100 years and pointed out that it can be planned and executed in a manner similar to the Central Visa."This government works fast," the SG quipped. The Court noted the SG's submission in its order and asked Senior Advocate VV Giri, who appearing for the Supreme Court's administrative side, to coordinate with the SG and apprise him of problems that require attention.The top court listed the matter for hearing after the summer vacations, on July 20. .The Supreme Court had, on March 8 issued notice to its administrative wing and the Central government on the present public interest litigation (PIL) petition. The petition cited the space crunch in the existing premises for judges, advocates as well as litigants. The petitioner, therefore, prayed for the redevelopment of the area around the top court as a Judicial Vista.The plea also sought the creation of centrally-regulated authority, funded entirely out of the Consolidated Fund of India, to allocate resources for the development of judicial infrastructure at courts and tribunals across the country.Pointing out that the workload and number of judges, advocates and litigants have only increased whereas the size of the premises has not, the plea called for the construction of:A multi-level complex with 45-50 courtrooms and 5,000 chambers for lawyers;10,000 car capacity underground parking facility;Adequate office, working and waiting space for law officers, advocates, standing counsel etc;Library, medical and photocopying facilities;Dedicated office space for all lawyer associations and bar councils.The Bench had on Monday said that the demand for creation of 'Judicial Vista' around the existing premises of the Supreme Court is a logical one. The bench had further said that for the apex court to carry out its judicial functions effectively proper infrastructure is essential..[Follow our coverage of today's hearing]

[Judicial Vista] Supreme Court corridors horribly crowded, we don't use them: Justice Vineet Saran

Related Stories