The Indian Express ·
‘Judicial infra a constitutional duty not favour’, Rajasthan High Court rebukes state
The Rajasthan High Court was hearing suo motu proceedings concerning the poor structural condition of its principal seat in Jodhpur, including the 21-metre-high central dome.
Reminding the state that judicial infrastructure is not a matter of government favour, the Rajasthan High Court has said that the judiciary “cannot be treated merely as an ordinary Government Department” when it comes to infrastructure and administrative facilities. The administration of justice is an “essential sovereign and constitutional function of the State” and adequate infrastructure is necessary for courts to discharge that function, it added.
Chief Justice Sanjay K Agrawal and Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur were hearing suo motu proceedings concerning the structural condition of the high court’s principal seat in Jodhpur, including its ‘Central Dome’, which is approximately 21 metres high. The court had first taken cognisance of the building’s condition on August 10 and heard the matter again on August 24. The matter will be heard next on October 5.
“It is necessary to remind the Government that the judiciary is one of the three essential pillars of our constitutional democracy and cannot be treated merely as an ordinary Government Department for the purpose of providing infrastructure and other administrative facilities. The administration of justice is an essential sovereign and constitutional function of the State,” the bench said.
