Kerala: CJI for better facilities for advocates

Kochi, Nov 8: Stressing the need to provide better facilities to advocates, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan today said this would improve the efficiency of the legal system and also help the general public.

Inaugurating the commencement of the construction work for an advocates' 'Chamber Complex' in the High Court here, Mr Balakrishnan said Kerala was the only state in the country which did not provide seperate chambers for advocates.

Even district courts in places like New Delhi and Madurai had chambers for advocates, he said.

Alluding to the controversy over the land earmarked in the High Court for putting up advocates chambers here, he said all controversies should be forgotten and the project should be carried forward.

The Chief Justice said a proposal by lawyers in New Delhi for a ten acre area to construct additional chambers was pending before the Prime Minister.

Noting that chambers were constructed out of government funds, the Chief Justice said advocates had to pay only a nominal rent.

Kerala Chief Justice H L Dattu delivered a special address on the occasion. Judges A K Basheer and J B Koshy, Advocate General C P Sudhakara Prasad and Advocates Association President P Jacob Varghese were also present at the function.

The 520-chamber complex is expected to be completed within 18 months.

UNI