Calcutta High Court constitutes committee to examine measures to ensure cleanliness, proper maintenance of facilities at High Court premises

The Calcutta High Court on Friday constituted a committee to discuss ways and means of maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the High Court premises (Iqbal Kabir v. The High Court at Calcutta & Ors.).The Committee is to comprise:the Advocate General, as the Committee's convener;the Additional Solicitor General;the President and Secretary of the three wings of the Bar;a lady member from each of the three wings of the Bar, as may be nominated by the President of the respective wing of the Bar;a representative of the Ladies Bar.."The Committee shall meet and discuss the ways and means of maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the High Court premises. The Committee should submit a report to the Court on the next date wherein the Committee shall indicate the 'Dos and Don’ts' and the restrictions that may be put on anybody entering the High Court premises," the Court directed. .In the course of the order, the High Court also took particular note of the Advocate General's submission that the toilets at the High Court are in a pathetic condition and in need of immediate remedial measures. ."We record the submission of the learned Advocate for the High Court Administration that the toilets in the Bar Association as also the toilets, which are meant for the litigants and other staff, are in pathetic condition and need immediate remedial measures", the order said. .The order was passed by a Bench of Chief Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition moved by one Iqbal Kabir..In his writ petition, Kabir had put forth various proposals for the proper maintenance of the Court buildings, including the maintenance of toilets and escalators, prohibiting pasting of banners and posters, hanging of clothes, the proper upkeep of fire and security measures, providing adequate sitting arrangements on all Court floors, the proper re-arrangement of wiring connecting CCTV cameras, making a dedicated smoking zone in every floor etc. .In November last year, the Court had called for a report on the state of amenities existing at the High Court from the High Court Administration through its Registrar General. Accordingly, a report dated January 6, 2021 was submitted by the Joint Registrar for the Court's perusal..The matter will be taken up next on February 12. .Advocates Phiroze Edulji and AK Upadhyay appeared for the petitioner while advocate General Kishore Datta appeared on behalf of the State. .[Read Order]