Lawyers too responsible for filth in trial courts: Delhi HC

Taking lawyers to task on cleanliness, Delhi High Court on Wednesday said they were also responsible for the "filth" generated in trial court complexes and asked them to be "more proactive" in keeping their workplaces clean.

A bench of justices B D Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva made the observation after perusing pictures placed before it with regard to lack of cleanliness as well as bad state of toilets in various trial court premises here. "Lawyers are also responsible. What nonsense is this? Why do lawyers create so much filth? Lawyers and litigants. Lawyers should take an oath not to litter. They themselves have to clean their house," the bench said.

It also said that the court was willing to help to maintain cleanliness. But "lawyers must also help and contribute. You have to be more proactive. Don't just look for votes. We are only asking you to keep it (court premises) clean," it said in an oblique reference to elections to the lawyers' bodies. The bench asked the government what it would do with regard to the issue as it had launched the Swachh Bharat campaign.

As no report with regard to building of a fountain in Tis Hazari court complex was filed by the Public Works Department (PWD) despite the court's direction, the bench listed the matter for hearing on August 26. PWD was also directed to submit its report on next date.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by a journalist, Pankaj Yadav, seeking a stay on the construction of the fountain on the ground that money being used for that be used to improve civic amenities in trial court complexes as well as making them disabled-friendly.