Uniform verdict: district courts face a tailor-made disaster

The staff were given summer uniforms in April. White shirts and grey trousers for other staff,while Group D employees were given white shirts and blue trousers. Following a circular issued in this regard by the Purchase Committee,measurements were taken in February.

When the uniforms were finally distributed to the employees,they were,according to number of them,a “disappointment”. For,not only was the stitching bad and the cloth used “second-rate” but the sizes were also erratic.

The letter being circulated at Tis Hazari courts states the poor quality of cloth was causing “irritation” and “itching”. “We apprehend that its continuous wearing could even cause some type of skin disease,” the letter states. The staff have stated that looking at them in their uniforms,their acquaintances ask if they are going to “clean up.”

“We want to draw the attention of the honourable judge to the said issues,for a look at the uniforms will disclose that no thought was given to the stitching because it was meant for government employees at government expenditure,” the letter states.

The application is being sent to each and every court of the complex and the staff are sign up and uniting in protest.

“The shirts carry labels and I wear a size 40. However,even a size 42 (of the new uniform shirt) does not fit me properly. A few washes and the clothes look old,” a civil court staff member,who prefers not wearing the uniform,said.

“Around 50 of us have already signed up. Signatures are being collected at the General Section branch from where these will be sent to the District and Sessions Judge very soon. We do not have a problem wearing the uniforms but then we must be given suitable outfits,” another court staff member,who did not want to disclose his identity,told Newsline.

A large number of employees,including all the women staff,are yet to receive the uniforms but after a glimpse of what the others have got,they say it is very unlikely they will be wearing theirs.