The Punjab and Haryana High Court has inquired of the UT administration whether it has formulated a disaster management plan, acting suo motu in response to the obstruction of the parking area on its premises due to heavy rains.
Prior to this, the High Court Bar Association members had hinted that there was clogging in the lanes leading to the court and in the designated parking area due to the recent heavy rainfall.
Anil Mehta, Senior Standing Counsel, Chandigarh, along with attorney Jaiveer Chandail, waived service of notice on behalf of the respondent, Chandigarh Administration, during the matter's resumed hearing.
The UT attorneys were instructed by the division bench of Justices Sureshwar Thakur and Sudeepti Sharma to make sure that on the next date of hearing, inputs are questions, "whether the administration concerned has prepared a disaster management plan in respect of Chandigarh" and "whether adequate sum of money has been assigned by the authorities concerned, for ensuring that the remedial measures, as echoed, in the said disaster management plan, are thereby put to the requisite remedial actions," were made available to the court for decision-making.
The administration has also been asked by the high court to clarify whether the actions taken in response to the recommendations in the disaster management plan are complete or not, as well as to explain why certain actions have not been taken.
The Bench also questioned the UT administration about whether it has acknowledged the severe water blockage that exists in in the high court's premises, which eventually discourages this court from carrying out its duties as soon as possible.
The high court has also questioned the UT administration about its assurances regarding the provision of sufficient hygienic facilities on the court's grounds.
The Bench further ordered that the matter be added to the December 8 list and directed that a copy of this order be sent to the President of the Bar Association, who is free to recommend changes to the matter.
