‘Unable to reach on time… forced to walk’: Fed up with traffic snarls outside Delhi’s Tis Hazari court, lawyer files petition

After his request to remove illegal encroachments on public roads and footpaths around the Tis Hazari complex, the court, on Tuesday, issued notice to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the Traffic Police while hearing the suit filed by advocate Devender Dhiryan.

“Let a detailed status report be filed on behalf of all defendants on the NDOH (next date of hearing). The reply to be filed on behalf of defendants No.1, 2, and 3 (MCD, SHO Police Station Kashmere Gate, and SHO Police Station Subzi Mandi) shall also mention complete details of vendors operating around Tis Hazari Courts, specifically mentioning how many vendors have been granted teh bazari licenses and what action has been taken against vendors operating illegally,” the court said.

“Defendant No. 2 to 4 (DCP Traffic) shall also file a status report regarding commercial vehicles/heavy vehicles running during the restricted entry time,” it added.

In his petition submitted before the court, Dhiryan alleged that “illegal encroachments, traffic congestion and unregulated activities” had proliferated in a 1-km radius of Tis Hazari Courts and surrounding areas.
“That the street vendors unlawfully occupy the roads and footpaths in the above-mentioned area/roads, hawkers, and shopkeepers who have encroached upon the public space to sell their products. This severely inconveniences pedestrians, who are forced to walk on roads, increasing the likelihood of accidents and obstructing free movement of vehicles. The public roads are further obstructed by illegal parking of vehicles… causing frequent traffic jams and contributing to air pollution,” he said in his petition.

“Many times we have to walk… lawyers are unable to reach the courts on time due to the traffic in the morning. Many adjournments take place due to this,” advocate Dhiryan told The Indian Express.

There are close to 180 courtrooms in Tis Hazari — the oldest lower Court in Delhi inaugurated in 1958 — and, according to a PWD engineer, its daily footfall is close to 40,000.

Close to 94,000 cases are pending in Tis Hazari (West) and 2 lakh are pending in Tis Hazari (Central). In Tis Hazari (West District) 24,642 (close to 27% of the total) cases are pending due to the unavailability of a counsel, according to the National Judicial Data Grid.

Outside the court, hundreds of vehicles are parked — most with stickers of advocates. “There is separate parking for advocates but buses take up that space. We are left with no option but to park our vehicles on the main road,” said an advocate on condition of anonymity.

A parking ticket collector also spoke to The Indian Express. “Around 20-22 persons like me are employed. We earn close to Rs 2,000 a day selling tickets. We don’t ask for money from advocates, only from private vehicles,” he said.

The Indian Express has learnt that private vehicles (not belonging to advocates) are charged a maximum of Rs 100 irrespective of the duration of parking.

In court, Dhiryan was assisted by advocates Amit Srivastav and Karan Talwar. A large number of advocates not connected to the case joined in solidarity and asked the judge to expedite the hearing. Showing interest in the matter himself, the judge gave a short date of March 26.

“There are so many encroachments on the footpath that I couldn’t even give a proper photo to the judge,” Dhiryan said.

The advocate is hopeful as he has been granted relief in a similar petition that he moved in Tronica City, Ghaziabad.

“Everyone is involved in this parking mafia. Legal jagah pe illegal kaam ho raha hai (illegal work is happening in legal premises — Courts),” said another advocate.