New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to its registry, the Centre and the Delhi government on a plea seeking directions for setting up 42 more commercial courts, as notified by the Delhi Government on April 13, 2021, to ensure speedy redressal of commercial cases instituted in Delhi in the larger public interest.
The public interest litigation (PIL) has been moved by a social activist and practising advocate Amit Sahni.
The bench of Justice Satish Chander Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad on Friday granted four weeks time to the Registry of High Court to file a response as to why commercial courts have not been set up in terms of the last order.
Delhi High Court on July 5, 2022, had directed its Registrar General, Government of NCT Delhi and others to set up 42 commercial courts within a period of six months for the speedy redressal of commercial cases. However, the same is not done to date, stated the plea.
Earlier Delhi High Court's bench of Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad noted down the submission of its administrative side stating that a shortage of courtrooms is coming in the way of immediately starting additional commercial courts which will be established once the infrastructure is completed.
The court also noted the submission of the Delhi Government stating Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi had desired during the meeting dated June 7, 2022, that the PWD may strictly adhere to the timelines for the construction of prefabricated courtrooms and hand over the same formally within the prescribed timelines.
Taking note of the submission the bench directed all the respondents to setup the infrastructure for 42 commercial courts within six months. The court granted liberty to petitioner Amit Sahni to re-approach the court if the order is not complied with within the time frame. (with ANI inputs)
