A major controversy erupted in Ajmer on Wednesday when a group of lawyers, expressing their anger over inadequate facilities in the newly constructed district court complex, set fire to decorations during the inauguration ceremony. The incident took place even as Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice Sanjeev Sharma, was present at the venue for the official opening.
The protesting lawyers alleged that the new court building failed to provide sufficient chambers and parking facilities for the legal fraternity. According to them, the new premises, built to accommodate more than 2,000 practicing lawyers, have only 83 chambers, leaving the majority without any working space.
“We were promised 356 chambers in the original plan. Now there are just 83. With thousands of lawyers practicing here, it is impossible to accommodate everyone. If we cannot find a place to sit, what is the use of coming to court?” questioned Deepak Gupta, Secretary of the District Bar Association, Ajmer.
Lawyers also complained about the lack of basic amenities within the new complex. Advocate Chander Bhan Singh Rathore criticized the state government’s decision to hold a second inauguration ceremony, noting that the building had already been inaugurated earlier in April by the then Chief Justice. He added, “There are no facilities for advocates inside the new building, yet the law department decided to shift the courts here. This shows complete disregard for our needs.”
The new court complex, initially scheduled for completion in September 2019, faced multiple delays before becoming operational. Despite boasting modern infrastructure and upgraded facilities for judicial functioning, the absence of provisions for advocate chambers and parking has sparked outrage among members of the Bar.
During the protest, lawyers reportedly set fire to decorative materials, damaged adornments, and blocked the Jaipur–Ajmer Road, causing disruption in the area. The demonstration reflected deep-seated resentment in the local legal community, which feels excluded from the planning and allocation process of the new facility.
The district administration and police were quick to respond to the situation, ensuring that no major casualties or property damage occurred beyond the symbolic protest fires. Authorities are now reviewing security measures and are expected to engage with the bar association to address their grievances.
The incident highlights a growing disconnect between infrastructure development and user needs, particularly in judicial complexes across the state. As one lawyer summed up, “A state-of-the-art building means little if the people who work there every day are left without basic facilities.”
Dr Sujay Kantawala, Senior Lawyer, states that “These recent incidents are very unfortunate.We need more pro -active interactions between bar & bench.One has to see the mounting pendency and the erosion of faith in the justice delivery system.the ground level talk is pathetic and unless we band together and stop the freefall in this abyss we are doomed.the third arm in the constitutional scheme is completely ignored by the other two arms,right from basic infrastructure,appointments etc.these signs including zero accountability from top to bottom are serious red flags and if they continue to be ignored even god will not be able to rescue us”.
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