Panaji
Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y V Chandrachud will inaugurate the technologically advanced District Court Complex at Merces in a short while from now.
The state-of-the-art facility consisting of numerous modern features to enhance judicial efficiency and improve the work environment, was conceptualised way back in 2009.
The State government had acquired a 20,091 square meter plot and two years later, the foundation stone for the complex laid by then Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay Justice Swatanter Kumar on September 2, 2011.
A press release issued by the Department of Information and Publicity states that the complex is equipped with Virtual Courtrooms, digital case management systems, e-filing facilities and an E-Sewa Kendra.
The complex is also designed to be fully accessible for persons with disabilities (PwDs) with ramps, braille signage and accessible washrooms in place.
Other facilities include a Vulnerable Witness Room, witness protection rooms, exclusive spaces for Lok Adalats and mediation proceedings, as well as a medical clinic with an on-site medical team. The complex also offers conveniences such as ATMs from three banks, stationary and photocopying rooms, barracks for police personnel, a crèche for children of litigants and staff, and a multipurpose hall with a capacity of 300 people, fully equipped for legal workshops and seminars.
The facility will also accommodate litigants, members of the bar, public prosecutors, and staff, providing parking for 326 vehicles and comfortable waiting areas. Each courtroom can hold 30 litigants and 24 members of the bar.
Reflecting Chief Justice Chandrachud's emphasis on improving judicial working conditions through technology, the complex will be the first in Goa to offer video conferencing facilities in all courtrooms. The building also incorporates an eco-friendly sewage treatment plant, where wastewater is recycled for use in the garden and restrooms.
This development is expected to improve the district judiciary’s functioning by facilitating smoother, faster access to justice while protecting the rights of victims, witnesses, and litigants. The District Legal Services Authority, North Goa, will also be housed in the complex, ensuring access to free legal aid at both taluka and district levels.
