Rouse Avenue Court Complex not a separate District in Delhi, clarifies Delhi HC

In response to the strike called by the Delhi Bar Association, Tis Hazari Court against the functioning of CBI Courts from the newly constructed Rouse Avenue Court Complex, the Delhi High Court has clarified that the new Court complex will not be a separate district, but will continue within Delhi’s Central District..As per the High Court Order dated April 2, all Courts of Special Judge (PC Act) (CBI) and Special Judge (PC Act) (ACB) in Delhi shall function from the Rouse Avenue Court Complex from April 9, 2019..The High Court has stated that there are presently eleven Revenue/Judicial Districts in Delhi, and that number will not change unless the Delhi Government initiates the process to do so..Therefore, the Rouse Avenue Court Complex shall merely function as a complex which would house all the Special Judges (PC Act) (CBI) and Special Judges (ACB)..It has stated that the jurisdiction of Special Judges (PC Act) (CBI) and Special Judges (ACB) is not restricted to the Sessions Divisions, but extends to the whole of Delhi..In its resolution dated March 29, 2019, the Delhi Bar Association had resolved to go on strike from March 30 against the shifting of courts from Central District Tis Hazari to the Rouse Avenue Court Complex. The Association had stated that the move would create a new district within the existing Central District, which was “per se erroneous, illegal, arbitrary, whimsical and against the established norms and practice“..Clearing the air around the ‘illegal’ creation of the new district, the Delhi High Court has written a detailed letter to the President of the Delhi Bar Association..Pursuant to the directions of the Supreme Court for speedy and quality justice in its suo motu writ petition Re: Filling up of vacancies WP(C) 2/2018, the High Court initiated the process to fill all the unfilled vacancies..The total sanctioned strength of Delhi Judiciary is 758 Judicial Officers. The latest batch of 48 judicial officers which has recently completed one-year mandatory training is now awaiting to preside over courts..Since all the six court complexes in Delhi were currently functioning to their maximum capacity, the High Court decided to shift the CBI Courts to the Rouse Avenue Court Complex to accommodate this increased strength of judicial officers. The letter states,.“This has lead to huge pendency in some of the courts which is causing tremendous inconvenience to the litigants and the lawyers. In order to streamline functioning of the justice delivery system and strengthening the capacity of judicial administration the High Court of Delhi after detailed deliberations and after informing the Hon’ble Supreme Court decided to shift the CBI Courts to the Rouse Avenue Court Complex.”.Besides this, all labour courts, Industrial Tribunals and Central Government Industrial Tribunal will also be shifted to the Rouse Avenue Court Complex..Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Magistrate (NI Act-FI) Courts will continue to be tried from where there are pending and will not be transferred to the Rouse Avenue Court complex..Additionally, 38 courts in different court complexes have also been created..The details are as under:.Court ComplexNo. of courtsTis Hazari14 Courts (11 MM + 3 CJ)Patiala House7 Courts (7 MMs)Saket6 Courts (5MM + 1 CJ)Karkardooma6 Courts (6 MMs)Rohini2 Courts (2 MMs)Dwarka3 Courts (3 MMs).The post of District & Sessions Judge cum Special Judge (PC Act) CBI, CMMs and ACMMs and MMs at Rouse Avenue have been created for the smooth functioning of judicial administration so as to avoid any inconvenience to the lawyers practising at Rouse Avenue Court, the letter states..Read the April 2, 2019 Order:.Read the Letter and note written to the Delhi Bar Association below:.Bar & Bench is available on WhatsApp. For real-time updates on stories, Click here to subscribe to our WhatsApp.