Metropolitan magistrate court complex in deplorable condition

Chennai: The Metropolitan magistrate court complex at Saidapet, which houses six courts and a magisterial level Fast track-III court, has been in a deplorable condition for more than a year.

The court complex – which is over 100 years old – is a double-storeyed Victorian era construction. Its back right corner is almost detached from the main building. After cracks appeared on the building a year ago, the PWD erected a few poles to strengthen the structure.

They even tied a rope across the area to prevent public entry, in view of the danger the structure posed.  Metropolitan court-IX is just opposite this dangerous corner. “This adjustment with poles has been in place for more than six months, but the authorities have not yet done anything to rectify the defect. If the building continues to stand as such, it would pose a threat to life,” says Bramhananda Sivam, an advocate.

The court, which started functioning along with Egmore and George Town courts, is among the oldest in Chennai. Recently, the Egmore court was shifted to a new building owing to its bad condition, Sivam added.  

The near-collapse condition of the court prompted authorities to draw up a plan to shift the complex to an area near the CB CID office in Guindy, but advocates protested against this due to lack of parking space, said a policeman on duty, who didn’t want to be named.  

M.G. Mathivannan, president of  Law association of Saidapet court, said a panel, including HC judges, had taken stock of the situation and allotted funds for a new building inside the compound.

“But we don’t have place to shift as the temporary compound allotted near the CB-CID office lacks parking space,” he said, adding they had submitted a request to the high court Registrar-general that they were ready to shift any time with a three-month notice period.

The plan which was formulated almost three years ago got a new lease of life in January 2015, when the shifting was announced. But nothing happened till July and hence the association wrote again to the Registrar-general, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and other authorities concerned.

The Justice Padmanabhan committee report on heritage buildings in Chennai had earlier listed Saidapet court under Group Value 2A with Grade 2a. When contacted, the Deputy planner of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, confirmed that documentation was under way and they would submit it to the Heritage Conservation Committee and then to the government, which will notify it. The Padmanabhan Committee notification came in 2010, however, nothing has materialised yet.