REPORT OF LAYING STONE CEREMONY OF NEW JUDICIAL COURT COMPLEX, BATHINDA LAID ON 30^th  DECEMBER, 2006

                        Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vijender Jain, the Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court, laid the Foundation Stone of New Judicial Court Complex at Bathinda on 30.12.2006. To be constructed in an area of 7.94 acres, at an estimated cost of Rs.17.73 crores, the construction of the Complex would be completed within 2 years.

            The Complex would have three Blocks.  Apart from the provision for Court Rooms, the Complex will have provision for Waiting Halls for Litigants; Record Room; Malkhana and accommodation for Lawyers Chambers.  The Complex would have provision for 18 Courts.

            Apart from Hon'ble the Chief Justice; Mr.Surinder Singla Finance , Planning and Health Minister was present.  Also present on the occasion were Hon'ble Mr. Justice J.S.Khehar; Hon'ble Mr. Justice J.S.Narang, Chairman, Building Committee; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Jasbir Singh; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Uma Nath Singh; Hon'ble Ms. Justice Kiran Anand Lall; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Bhalla; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal, Administrative Judge of Bathinda Sessions Division; Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.N.Aggarwal; Hon'ble Mr. Justice V.K.Sharma; Hon'ble Mr. Justice T.P.S.Mann; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kailash Gambhir, Judge Delhi High Court; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Harphool Singh Brar, (Retd.); Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.S.Garewal (Retd.); Lieutenant General N.S.Brar; Station Commander R.K.Dhir; Sh.K.C.Puri, District and Sessions Judge, Bathinda; Sh.R.P.Nagrath, District and Sessions Judge, Mansa; Sh.Virender Kumar Metgh, District and Sessions Judge, Faridkot; Sh.V.K.Janjua, Commissioner, Faridkot Division, Faridkot; Sh.Rahul Bhandari, worthy Deputy Commissioner; Sh.Parmod Ban, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bathinda; Sh.Jasbir Singh and  President District Bar Association, Bathinda.

                        Speaking on the occasion, Justice Vijender Jain said that he had two top priorities to make the judicial system more accessible for the people. "First, the jujdiciary should be made available at the nearest place possible for the people so that they do not have go to far places for justice cost-effective so that maximum persons can claim the just," Justice Jain said, while listing the priorities. "The justice should not be for the selected few only who can spend money, "he said, telling the lawyers that their (lawyers') role was ‘crucial in that aspect and deliberations need to be done on the issue. His Lordship said that the delivering the justice at sub division level and district level was "as important as it was in the High Court".

                        Justice Jain stressed on the need for cordial relations between judicial officers and advocates, who he said, were two sides of the same coin. He expressed satisfaction over the construction of courts with proper air-conditioned seating space for litigants. People seeking justice should not be harassed, he said.

                        Hon'ble Mr. Justice J.S.Narang, Chairman of Building Committee, while addressing the gathering said that the litigation was on the rise due to increasing population. He impressed upon the need to solve the dispute at family level, if possible.

                        Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.K.Mittal, Administrative Judge of Bathinda Sessions Division in his speech, said that Subordinate Courts should be housed in clean environment and mentioned that the present Old Court Complex is in bad state of condition and even a little rain brings a lot of trouble.

                        Sh. K.C. Puri, District & Sessions Judge, Bathinda, in his speech proposed a Vote of Thanks and said that it is a matter of great pride, honour and privilege for the residents of Bathinda, especially for him to have such galaxies of high dignitaries on such a solemn and a great occasion. Mementos were presented to the Dignitaries by Bar Association, Bathinda.