PANAJI
Finally, more than four months after its high-octane inauguration by the then Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, the sprawling Merces court complex with state-of-the-art facilities will be put to use for what it was built, soon.
North Goa's Principal District and Sessions Judge, Irshad Agha, issued a notice on Thursday in which he said the North Goa District and Sessions Court and the Civil and Criminal Courts currently functioning from the Lyceum Complex at Altinho will commence functioning from the new complex at Merces from March 10.
In the notice addressed to all advocates, litigants and the general public, Agha said the North Goa District Legal Services Authority, which is currently functioning from the old District and Sessions Court building next to Panaji Residence and opposite the Mermaid Garden, will also be shifted and function from the Merces complex from March 10.
However, the Fast Track Special Court (POSCO), for the State of Goa will continue functioning from the old District Court building until further orders, Agha's notice states.
'The Goan' had reported about the over four-month delay in moving the courts operating in the city to the Merces complex. It was inaugurated by the ex-CJI Chandrachud in the presence of several other Judges of the Supreme Court and other High Courts besides the who's who from Goa's legal fraternity in October last year.
The impressive complex has a built-up area of 34,000-odd square metres and has provisions for 'virtual courtrooms', an E-Sewa Kendra, Digital Case Management and e-filing systems and all modern facilities for PwDs, braille script on all signboards, a Vulnerable Witness Deposition Room and witness protection rooms, exclusive space for permanent Lok Adalats, regular Lok Adalats, mediation and arbitration proceedings.
