Team Herald
MARGAO: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday ordered the State government to undertake structural stability and electricity audit of Civil and Criminal Court at Margao and the same be completed by August 2.
The order was passed following a plea filed by the South Goa Advocates Association (SGAA) seeking intervention in the Public Interest Litigation (suo motu) for a structural stability and electricity audit of Civil and Criminal Court, Margao, which is in a dilapidated state.
Along with the intervention application, the South Goa Advocates Association also filed an application seeking direction on the condition of the Civil and Criminal Court at Margao.
The Division Bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice R N Laddha while accepting one of the prayers made by the SGAA said that immediately a structural stability and electricity audit will have to be undertaken and the same should be completed before the next date of hearing fixed on August 2.
The High Court during the hearing perused the report dated July 15 prepared by the Principal District and Sessions Judge, South Goa at Margao.
The High Court said, “We are satisfied that immediate steps have to be taken. It said that copies of the report made by the Principal District and Sessions Judge have already been shared with the Government Advocate.”
The High Court also instructed government authorities to consider the report to be submitted by the principal district judge in the meeting of the government authorities scheduled on July 26.
The High Court said, “At at the request of Manish Salkar, the Government Advocate, we post the matter on August 2 for further consideration. We are informed that in the meeting which is scheduled on July 26, a road map will be prepared and after that the same will be presented at this court.”
The High Court also observed that access to justice is the basic structure of the Constitution. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders, including in particular the State, to ensure that proper infrastructure is made available for Courts so that there is proper access to justice for one and all.
The High Court stated in its order, “At least, prima facie, we also agree that immediately a structural stability and electricity audit will have to be undertaken. We earnestly expect that this exercise will be completed before the next date of hearing.”
