On counting day,ensure we get access to court,judge tells top cop

Principal district and sessions judge Anant Badar on Tuesday wrote to Pune Police Commissioner Meeran Borwankar and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Traffic) Vishwas Pandhare to ensure that entrances to Pune district and sessions court in Shivajinagar are not blocked on the day of counting of votes on February 17. The counting will be done at a government godown behind Shivajinagar court.

The letter states that there were complaints from judges and court staff last year that they had to face problems in reaching the court as the road was blocked with barricades. The court is closed only on February 16. “Access to the court should not be blocked for judges,lawyers,court staff and litigants for law and order. If done so,it would amount to interference in course of justice,” the letter says.

It also added that all the three gates — two and three located near Sancheti Hospital chowk and gate four near the godown — are open on any given day and should be open on the day of counting as well.

Borwankar said although she had not received the letter,the police shall definitely try to keep the gates clear for court staff,judges,litigants and lawyers. According to Amol Kajale-Patil,secretary,Pune Bar Association (PBA),the litigants avoid coming to the court on this day. “Even police avoid getting witnesses to the court citing election duty as it is difficult to control the mob. The situation is the same every year,” he said.