Delhi HC disapproves of defacing Tis Hazari court complex for elections

The Delhi High Court’s Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar, JJ. recently passed orders against the “defacement” of the Tis Hazari court complex with political posters. With the bar elections scheduled for January 20, a number of potential candidates had stuck posters on the court complex walls..These orders came in a 2015 PIL filed by journalist Pankaj Yadav seeking directions to improve the civic amenities while making the infrastructure more disabled-friendly in the trial court complexes..The bench directed the district and sessions judge to ensure removal of the posters put up by candidates, and take appropriate action under the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act of 2007. Directions were also issued to the bar association to supervise the polling. A three-member election panel was also set up by the bench to ensure no more posters are put up in the court premises..In an order in February last year, the bench had highlighted the issue of pasting of these posters on the walls by the vendors and advocates. The bench had stated,.“It is agreed by all that this should not happen. It is the prime responsibility of the Bar Associations to ensure that no vendor or election candidate should put up a poster in the buildings of the Court Complexes. .This direction pertains to all the Court Complexes and is not limited to Tis Hazari Court or the Karkardooma Courts. .In fact, the Bar Associations should incorporate an election rule of the concerned Bar Association indicating that if any candidate puts up a poster on the walls of the Court complex, he would be disqualified.”.However, no rules regarding this were incorporated in the election rules formed by the association. In the February order, the bench had also directed the District & Sessions Judge to take immediate action at having the posters removed. However, no steps were taken..The bench has now listed the matter for further hearing on January 18..Read the February 24, 2016 order below..Image taken from here.