Why Parking Is A Flashpoint At City Courts

Car park remains a nightmare at all 6 lower courts even after Tis Hazari row triggered a lawyers vs cops battle

- Ajay Kumar And Chayyanika Nigam

On the afternoon of November 2, a policeman intercepted a lawyer while he was trying to park his car outside the lock-up area inside Tis Hazari Court Complex in North Delhi. The cop said that the slot was reserved for prison vans. In no time, the heated exchange between the two turned the court premises into a battleground, leading to violent clashes involving lawyers and Delhi Police personnel, leaving dozens injured. Several vehicles were also torched during the confrontation.

The clashes between the two pillars of the criminal justice system led to an unprecedented protest by cops outside the Delhi Police headquarters.

A MAIL TODAY reality check found that all six lower courts of Delhi face a massive parking crisis—the root cause that triggered the November 2 clashes. Lawyers at each of these court complexes claim that only 10% registered law officials are able to station their vehicles at the premises. The rest, they said, have no option but to park their vehicles on adjoining roads, converting them into illegal parking lots – a breeding ground for chaos and heated brawls.

PATIALA HOUSE COURTS COMPLEX

Situated on the India Gate hexagon near the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the Patiala House court complex on Tilak Marg, the busiest road of the city, is built in an area measuring 31,872 sq metre. The court is located between Supreme Court and the high court. The complex consists of 32 courts, one family court, a Delhi Legal Services Authorities office, and various other branches and lawyers chambers. With space of parking for just 200 vehicles inside the premises, around 2,500 to 3,000 vehicles are parked either at the outer periphery of the court complex, at the India Gate parking or at the roadside till Pragati Maidan and Purana Quila, leading to slow-moving traffic for the daily commuters on a given day. Even the advocates do not get parking space.