No time-frame yet fixed for start, completion of work
Central Govt aid imperative to translate project into reality
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 7: In a bizarre decision, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has asked the Union Territory of Ladakh to provide funds for construction of new High Court Complex at Raika in the outskirts of Jammu city instead of approaching the Union Government. In such a situation, no time-frame has yet been fixed for start and completion of the work on the mega project.
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The revelation in this regard was made by none else than the Minister Incharge Law and Justice of Government of J&K Union Territory in the Legislative Assembly today in a written reply to the question of MLA from Ramban constituency Arjun Singh Raju.
The MLA had sought the present status of construction of the Jammu Wing of the High Court at Raika indicating also the contours of the project with specific reference to its design provision of funding and date of its completion.
“A proposal for construction of High Court at Raika in Jammu was received from High Court for an amount of Rs 922 crore. The proposal was technically vetted for Rs 921.79 crore by Secretary Technical, Public Works Department”, the Minister said, adding it was initially decided to complete fencing of land by way of barbed-wire around the proposed site at Raika Jammu.
“Accordingly, Administrative Approval was accorded to the construction of fencing by way of barbed wire at an estimated cost of Rs 71.60 lakh and an amount of Rs 56 lakh stands released in favour of High Court Registry for carrying out the execution of work”, the Minister said.
About the main complex, the Minister stated: “It was resolved that the UT of J&K will approach the UT of Ladakh to fund the new High Court at Raika, Jammu being the common High Court for UT of J&K and Ladakh as the UT of J&K is already funding ongoing construction of new High Court at Bemina in Srinagar. Accordingly, the matter stands taken up with the UT of Ladakh vide Letter No.Law-Plg/164/2022-12 dated November 26, 2024 for funding of the project”.
However, no time-frame for start and completion of work on the mega project was conveyed to the Legislative Assembly by the Minister Incharge Law and Justice.
This decision has come under sharp criticism from different quarters as Union Territory of Ladakh having meager resources at its disposal cannot afford to provide funds for the High Court Complex at Jammu. “Ladakh Union Territory is already funding the projects aimed at creation of judicial infrastructure in the cold desert region from its own resources and managing funds for construction of High Court Complex at Jammu is remotely possible”, official sources said.
“As whopping Rs 921 crore are required to complete the new High Court complex at Raika in Jammu, the Union Territory of J&K should have approached the Union Government for funding instead of demanding assistance from the Union Territory of Ladakh”, they further said, adding “how the Union Territory of Ladakh, which is already grappling with funds constraints, can provide any financial assistance to the UT of J&K remains a million dollar question”.
It is pertinent to mention here that the foundation stone of mega project was laid by the then Chief Justice of India Dr Justice D Y Chandrachud in the presence of Lieutenant Governors of J&K and Ladakh Union Territories and Judges of the Supreme Court and J&K and Ladakh High Court on June 28, 2023.
The project was conceptualized as the existing campus of High Court Jammu Wing is in a decrepit state and suffers on various factors. At the foundation stone laying ceremony, it was revealed that the new campus will have all multi-disciplinary facilities for an effective judicial eco-system. However, till date work has not commenced mainly because the J&K Union Territory Government doesn’t have enough resources and this was highlighted by EXCELSIOR through exclusive news-items several times.
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