NEW DELHI: For the very first time, Delhi will get a single court complex where all corruption-related cases pending in various city courts will be tried. The move is likely to put anti-graft trials on a fast-track and free up existing courtrooms for other cases.
After a long wait, Delhi high court decided to kick-start the capital’s newest court complex on from April 9 by shifting all Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act-related courts there. Following the nod from Chief Justice Rajendra Menon, the court administration asked all CBI and Anti-Corruption Branch special judges to relocate to the Rouse Avenue Court Complex, which has 42 courtrooms.
However, the action has invited protests from a section of the bar, with the Tis Hazari-based Delhi Bar Association on Friday terming the move as “whimsical and arbitrary” and threatening demonstrations before the high court and the LG’s office, plus a day’s strike next week.
In response, the high court sent an explanatory note to the lawyers. Accessed by TOI, the note says, “Rouse Avenue Court Complex will merely function as a court complex to house all special judges (PC Act) and ACB. The jurisdiction of special judges is not restricted to sessions divisions, but extends to the whole of Delhi. This step has been taken in order to ensure the convenience of litigants and lawyers and to ensure solemn objective of eradicating huge pendency.”
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