Gaya: With officials looking for a 25-acre plot to relocate the district court, the plan has gathered pace. One such plot off NH-22 to the south of Magadh University is being considered for the purpose. The old premises of the court, located in a crowded area, and its age-related vulnerability have caused concern in judicial circles, prompting efforts to shift the court to a new site.The existing structure is more than 100 years old and is regarded as unsafe. Over the years, the footfall on the court premises and the strength of the judiciary have increased significantly. There are more than 1,200 registered lawyers in the court, including one dozen judicial officers of the district judge rank. The total number of judicial officers is more than 50. Apart from judicial work, additional space is also required for office purposes and accommodation of lawyers and litigants in an eco-friendly system.A few months ago, the Patna high court, taking suo motu cognisance of the condition of the court building, ordered the immediate shifting of several courtrooms from the existing premises of the district court to the nearby Prabhavati Hospital premises for safety reasons, as these courtrooms were found to be dangerous and vulnerable to collapse.The entire premises, said to be more than 120 years old, is in a somewhat dilapidated condition and, as such, relocation of the court premises has become all the more important. Moreover, with growing litigation and related requirements, the existing structure has been found inadequate. Being an old-model structure, space utilisation in the building is less than optimal.According to DM Shashank Shubhankar, a couple of plots are under consideration and a final decision has not yet been taken. “Twenty-five acre land is required for the purpose,” said the DM. Asked about the now defunct Jail Press located on prime land in the south-western part of the city, he said the idea was not feasible.Gaya Bar Association president Syed Qaiser Sharfuddin said the association was being kept in the loop regarding site selection. Besides the district judge and the district magistrate, he too was engaged in the site selection exercise.Conceding that the existing court building has exhausted its lifespan, Sharfuddin said practising lawyers would prefer a location that is not far away and is convenient for all stakeholders, particularly lawyers and litigants.
