PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Lawyers in Dehradun protested on Monday stating that the existing land allocation is insufficient for the large number of lawyers and support staff working in the district court complex and demanded additional land for the construction of chambers. The members of the bar association protested on the streets and held a sit-in against the construction of a Rain Basera in the complex, citing a shortage of land in the premises as the main reason. They stated that the existing land allocation is insufficient for the large number of lawyers and support staff working in the complex and demanded additional land for the construction of chambers. The protest took place near the civil compound on Haridwar Road, where the Health department proposed to build the Rain Basera. Lawyers argued that the construction will further limit the already scarce space available for legal work and facilities within the complex. The Dehradun association president Manmohan Kandwal said that over 5,000 lawyers are registered with the association. Besides this, around 5,000 support staff, including stamp vendors, typists and clerks, work in the court complex. The five bighas of land currently leased to the bar association for chamber construction is insufficient to accommodate the 10,000 people working in the premises, as per Kandwal. He stated that the court complex on Haridwar Road should be designated for lawyer chambers and legal work sheds. He stated that allocating this land for legal purposes is necessary to ensure lawyers and staff have adequate space to perform their professional duties efficiently. Kandwal raised concerns that the proposed Rain Basera will reduce the limited space even further, affecting their ability to work. He urged the authorities to reconsider the proposal and allocate additional land to meet the needs of the legal community. The protest continued for several hours outside the court complex, with lawyers carrying banners and chanting slogans demanding proper land allocation. Kandwal stated that the association will continue its efforts and protests until the issue of space shortage is addressed. “We will intensify our protest if the government continues to neglect our demands,” he added.
