New Courtrooms Boost Efficiency as Pune Cantonment Court Moves to Wanowrie

Pune, 10th July 2024: The British-era Cantonment Court building on Mahatma Gandhi Road in the Camp area of Pune has become outdated. The Cantonment Court has recently been shifted to Mahatma Phule Cultural Bhawan in Wanowrie as renovation work has begun on the old building. Previously, the Cantonment Court had three courtrooms. Now, an additional courtroom has been established to handle the cases filed in the court. This increase in courtrooms will benefit both the parties involved and the advocates.

Within a month, another room will be opened in Mahatma Phule Sanskrutik Bhavan, bringing the total to five courtrooms. The increase in the number of courtrooms will help quickly dispose of claims. Adv. Santosh Khamkar, President of the Pune Bar Association, stated that this expansion will benefit the parties, lawyers, and the judicial system.

The Cantonment Court previously operated out of a British-era building on Mahatma Gandhi Road in the Camp area. Due to insufficient space and the old construction, it was decided to shift the Cantonment Court. Since 27th June, the court has been functioning on the premises of Mahatma Phule Sanskrutik Bhavan in Wanowrie. Considering the number of claims filed in the Cantonment Court, it was decided to increase the number of courtrooms. Daily cases from five police stations were heard in the three existing courtrooms, causing delays in hearing filed claims. Adv. Prasad Nikam mentioned that with the addition of one more courtroom within a month, the court will operate from five courtrooms.

Daily cases (remand) from five police stations—Hadapsar, Lashkar, Wanowrie, Kondhwa, and Mundhwa—are heard under the jurisdiction of the Cantonment Court. With the opening of five courtrooms, a separate court will be available for each police station, reducing the pressure on the court. This will also alleviate the stress on lawyers, courts, and the parties involved as claims filed alongside daily cases will be heard more efficiently.

30,000 Claims Pending in Army Court

For the last few years, there has been a demand to provide a separate seat for the Cantonment Court due to inadequate space affecting its operations. More than 30,000 cases are currently pending in the Cantonment Court. The Pune Bar Association had requested the Bombay High Court to increase the number of court chambers for the early disposal of pending claims. The infrastructural facilities on the premises of Mahatma Phule Sanskrutik Bhavan are lacking, and the space is being used temporarily. Adv. Santosh Khamkar informed that the increase in the number of courtrooms will expedite the settlement of claims.