Sagar gets HC exemption

The UT Chief Engineer, being quot;betterquot; conversant with the facts, was in a quot;betterquot; position to answer the court8217;s queries and he or quot;any other officer conversant with the factsquot; would be present before the court, the counsel said.

Meanwhile, in the progress report submitted before the court, it was stated that the work of installing generators had started and would be over by April-end. The Administration, on the last date of hearing, had submitted an affidavit that tenders had been called for and the work allocated to a contractor.

The court had directed the Administration to provide alternate arrangements at the High Court in case of power failure by installing the generators. The Advocate Generals of Punjab and Haryana had also been asked to submit proposals for installing emergency lights, or providing an alternative, in the subordinate courts for avoiding work disruption.

A suo motu notice was issued to the Adviser on September 10 after a power failure for over three hours in the HC. Justice Chalapathi had observed: quot;There cannot be any doubt that the failure on the part of the UT Administration to provide basic amenities and create a proper environment for the smooth functioning of the court certainly amounts to the obstruction and interference with the administration of justice.quot; The case will come up on March 15 for submission of status report.