Space for justice: New four storey building on the cards for LHC
Three floors have been proposed for new courtrooms
Lahore High Court. PHOTO: LHC.GOV.PK
LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court (LHC) administration has decided to build a four-storey wing at its existing land for new court rooms.
The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. A number of officials of the LHC buildings wing, the Works Department and independent architects took part in the meeting held a few weeks ago. “A reference has now been sent to the Punjab Architecture Department for drafting the plan,” said an Architecture Department official who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.
“We have received a reference in this regard. The work has not started yet. The department officials will hold a meeting with the LHC administration and then take a final decision. Initially, the LHC had wanted 30 to 40 court rooms in this planned complex. [Now] they want three floors for courtrooms and the fourth floor for the administrative offices of the LHC,” the official said.
“The proposed site for the complex is next to the Turner Road gate of the LHC where servants’ quarters, photocopier shops and oath commissioners’ office are currently located. These structures will have to be demolished if the complex is built there. The existing LHC building is quite congested. It is not be feasible to add floors of the existing building. It would mar the view of the historic building, obstruct ventilation and sunlight. According to building bylaws, there has to be a distance of at least 50 to 60 feet from one major building to another,” he said. When contacted, an LHC spokesperson told The Express Tribune that no such development was in his knowledge. “Although there is a shortage of court rooms, such a development is not into my knowledge,” he said.
Presently, the LHC has 60 judges, including the chief justice. There are a total 46 court rooms in which two courts are being used as offices. For the next week starting from September 28, a total of 39 single benches and 14 division benches have been formed to hear cases.
The main wing of the LHC has eight court rooms, including the LHC chief justice’s. Five court rooms are in the Registrar Office wing. Five court rooms are located in the double- storied wing of the LHC which is next to the Mosque Gate. There are four court rooms to the left and right of the main entrance to the CJ Wing.
Eight court rooms are located in the Western Wing, which was completed in June, 2008. Another four court rooms are located in front of the Copy Branch completed in 1974. A four-storied complex, containing 12 court rooms, was constructed in 1999. It was inaugurated by former chief justice Rashid Aziz Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2015.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) administration has decided to build a four-storey wing at its existing land for new court rooms.
The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. A number of officials of the LHC buildings wing, the Works Department and independent architects took part in the meeting held a few weeks ago. “A reference has now been sent to the Punjab Architecture Department for drafting the plan,” said an Architecture Department official who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.
“We have received a reference in this regard. The work has not started yet. The department officials will hold a meeting with the LHC administration and then take a final decision. Initially, the LHC had wanted 30 to 40 court rooms in this planned complex. [Now] they want three floors for courtrooms and the fourth floor for the administrative offices of the LHC,” the official said.
“The proposed site for the complex is next to the Turner Road gate of the LHC where servants’ quarters, photocopier shops and oath commissioners’ office are currently located. These structures will have to be demolished if the complex is built there. The existing LHC building is quite congested. It is not be feasible to add floors of the existing building. It would mar the view of the historic building, obstruct ventilation and sunlight. According to building bylaws, there has to be a distance of at least 50 to 60 feet from one major building to another,” he said. When contacted, an LHC spokesperson told The Express Tribune that no such development was in his knowledge. “Although there is a shortage of court rooms, such a development is not into my knowledge,” he said.
Presently, the LHC has 60 judges, including the chief justice. There are a total 46 court rooms in which two courts are being used as offices. For the next week starting from September 28, a total of 39 single benches and 14 division benches have been formed to hear cases.
The main wing of the LHC has eight court rooms, including the LHC chief justice’s. Five court rooms are in the Registrar Office wing. Five court rooms are located in the double- storied wing of the LHC which is next to the Mosque Gate. There are four court rooms to the left and right of the main entrance to the CJ Wing.
Eight court rooms are located in the Western Wing, which was completed in June, 2008. Another four court rooms are located in front of the Copy Branch completed in 1974. A four-storied complex, containing 12 court rooms, was constructed in 1999. It was inaugurated by former chief justice Rashid Aziz Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2015.