Construction of mini-secretariat in Ambala stokes row

Tribune News Service

Ambala, June 9

The District Bar Association has opposed the construction of the proposed mini-secretariat at the old sessions court complex in Ambala City. The association has also sought the status of a heritage building for the old sessions court building.

Rohit Jain, DBA president, said: “The mini-secretariat is proposed to come up at the old sessions court complex, which is situated about 3 km from the district courts. This will cause unnecessary harassment and hardships to the general public and the litigants. For the smooth working of judicial and administrative system, both complexes should be situated nearby. The pattern has been followed in all districts of the state.”

“The High Court had decided to compile chronological genesis of courts and their contribution in the state at district courts level. In compliance of the said requisition, a possible detail of all historical buildings, with reference to the setting up of the judicial courts at Ambala, has already been sent to the High Court, wherein there is specific mention of the old sessions court building, Ambala,” he said.

“The sessions court was housed in this building from the British era till November 2003. The old building must be preserved and declared as a heritage building and the construction of the administrative complex should be carried out at some other place for which sufficient space is already available in the old collectorate office complex,” Jain added.