Kiren Rijiju promises new building for Siliguri court, says Raju Bista

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, JANUARY 31, 2023: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has discussed with Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju the poor condition of the Siliguri Court premise, and has requested for his intervention for the construction of a new court premise in Siliguri.

Bista said on Tuesday: “I had highlighted that Siliguri is the biggest city in north Bengal, and the existing court infrastructure has not been upgraded for decades. Due to the lack of modern buildings and infrastructure, the court is forced to function from old dilapidated buildings, ill-equipped to handle the ever increasing caseloads, and needs of the modern day judicial work. 

The court infrastructure as it stands today is not able to meet and cater to the judicial needs of the people from Siliguri and the rest of north Bengal. Further, I had informed Kiren Rijiju that the foundation stone for a new court building in Siliguri was laid the year 2012, but the construction has not commenced so far. This is causing great inconvenience to the members of Siliguri Bar Association, judges, the judicial staff and the public in general.

”On Tuesday Bista, received a letter from the Union Law Minister informing him that “even though the primary responsibility for the development of infrastructure facilities for subordinate judiciary rests with the State Governments, the Central Government through a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) is supplementing the budgetary resources of the States, including that of West Bengal, for augmenting the said judicial infrastructure.”

According to Bista, the Centre has allocated Rs 254.59 crore to West Bengal under this scheme, of which Rs 165.06 crore have been disbursed from 2014 till now. There was an unspent balance of Rs 71.78 crore in the beginning of this financial year with the West Bengal government. The Central funds would be made available to the State during this fiscal year upon submission of a utilization certificate along with a proposal seeking funds by giving details of ongoing and new projects. 

 A copy of the representation pertaining to the Siliguri Court Infrastructure has been forwarded to the West Bengal Government for taking necessary action in the matter in consultation with the High Court of Calcutta.

“I am most hopeful that the West Bengal government will utilize these Rs 71.78 crore towards the modernization of Siliguri Court, Darjeeling District Court, Kalimpong District Court, Kurseong Court, and Mirik Court,”Bista said.