G.MOHANAKRISHNAN PRESIDENT letter to mhc Cj Hon’ble Chief Justice, Ref: NEED TO RE-ARRANGE THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS INSIDE THE COURT HALLS AT THE PRINCIPAL BENCH OF THE HON’BLE HIGH COURT, MADRAS We, The Madras High Court Advocates’ Association (MHAA) submit the following request to the kind consideration of the Hon’ble Chief Justice and the Learned companion Judges with respect to the Seating Arrangements to be made inside the Court
The Hon’ble Chief Justice,
Madras High Court,
Chennai.
Hon’ble Chief Justice,
Ref: NEED TO RE-ARRANGE THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS INSIDE THE COURT HALLS AT THE PRINCIPAL BENCH OF THE HON’BLE HIGH COURT, MADRAS
We, The Madras High Court Advocates’ Association (MHAA) submit the following request to the kind consideration of the Hon’ble Chief Justice and the Learned companion Judges with respect to the Seating Arrangements to be made inside the Court Halls of the Principal Bench of the Madras High Court. The present seating arrangements necessarily have to be re-modified for the safe and convenient Hearing of the cases at our High Court.
Quite contrary to almost all High Courts in India including Madurai Bench, our Principal Bench of the High Court, Madras alone is continuing with the non-utility of the optimum space available which could be used in the present Court Halls.
Almost all Court Halls barring few in the High Court Buildings, both Old and New approximately measures between 1200 and 1500 Sq.ft. Whereas the utility Area/portion of the Court Hall is very poor and not at its optimum level.
THE PRESENT SCENARIO OF THE COURT HALLS IS AS HEREUNDER.
The Court Officer/Stenographer Table occupies further space with a further Long Table for Bare Acts/Books. These are all put together occupies easily 1/4th or 1/5th of the space of the Court Hall.
Thereafter, with a further space of at least two feet Horse-Shoe Model/Semi-circular Tables are placed with hardly five to six Chairs on either side.
It is needless to state that the Law Officers occupy one full side. The only available other side is always occupied by Advocates, whose cases are not in the immediate reach.
The ever unused open space in between the two bracketed Horse-Shoe/Semi Circular Area could be easily accounted for 1/6th of the Court Hall. It always left unutilized and allows to collect Dust. Thereafter, the Barricade begins segregating Visitors space.
Thus, the Court Hall measuring about 1200 to 1500 sq.ft. hardly allows maximum 12 Advocates to be seated and with the present strength of the Advocates and listing of lot of cases, the Court Halls are not only heavily crowded, but also renders total lack of utility of the available space.
THE REQUIRED HEALTHY SCENARIO IN THE COURT HALLS
Whereas almost all the High Courts in India including Madurai Bench follow a different and rational Seating Arrangements. That is, individual Chairs are to be placed directly facing the Learned Judge, who is seated on the Dais with a long Table next to the Court Clerk/Stenographer. Thus, the arguing Counsel can address the Learned Judge by facing straight to him.
With Centre Dividing space between them namely straight, right and left it could render three ways for ingress and egress after addressing the Court. By this arrangement, three ways are provided.
In the present situation, the arguing Counsel cannot address the Learned Judge looking straight and only by turning his neck to the Learned Judge, he could argue.
By re-arranging the Seating System, each Court Hall can easily accommodate 40 to 50 Chairs even to the conservative calculations and the required Social Distancing which could be the later scenario of Coronavirus (COVID-19) can be regulated by maintaining the mandatory social distancing. This could be achieved only by such re-arrangements of Seating Systems and by removing the present outmoded semi-circular tables.
Even the New Court Halls formulated either at the old building or at the New building, there lies a Mega Big Size Table-Tennis Model Table. The new Courts formulated either in the Old building or in the New building has got such big size Table Tennis Model Table and is so laid with non-utility of the space. These Tables hardly gets cleaned as we are aware. Who on earth imagined such Tables is a matter of great concern.
Time has now come wherein My Lord the Hon’ble Chief Justice and Companion Learned Judges necessarily have to consider this Representation not only to judicially utilize the available Court Hall space, but also to effectively regulate the Social Distancing which is the need of the hour.
The required Seating Arrangements inside the Court Halls have to be necessarily re-arranged on a war-footing manner only with Quality Wooden Chairs instead of Plastic or Iron or Metal Sheet Chairs. Quality Wooden Chairs alone can preserve the Antique, Aesthetic and Anglo-Saxon value and Look of this great Chartered High Court. Heritage is to be preserved at any cost.
For some time, the List of the Hearing of the Cases can be minimized and the entry of the Advocates can be regulated by case-wise thereby controlling overcrowding of the Court Hall.
The Advocates, who wait outside for their call could also be provided with enough wooden chairs in Verandas. The present Railway Station or Post Office waiting Metal Benches which bears ugly look can be phased out.
With all humbleness, the Madras High Court Advocates’ Association (MHAA) requests the Hon’ble Chief Justice and the Companion Judges to have effective consultation with our Association and others while considering the non-judicial issues/Administrative related issues affecting the Bar. To achieve all the above a Committee can also be formed consisting of Bench and Bar for these issues.
Luckily time is available to re-model/re-arrange the Seating Arrangements.
Madras High Court Advocates’ Association (MHAA) honestly feels that the Hon’ble Chief Justice and the Companion Learned Judges will take this issue as a good and healthy suggestion for the betterment of the administration of Justice rendering system of our great charted High Court.
Yours sincerely,
G.MOHANAKRISHNAN
PRESIDENT
MADRAS HIGHCOURT ADVOCATES ASSOCIATION
