Bombay HC: Prioritise child-friendly courtrooms

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday directed the state government to set up child-friendly courtrooms in all judicial premises across the state on a “priority basis”.

A bench of chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice M.S. Karnik directed the government to ensure that its pilot project of setting up three model courtrooms in the city that are child-friendly and cater to vulnerable witnesses is implemented without further delay.

The directions came after advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, who is representing the state, told the bench that while the state had allocated Rs 23 lakh for setting up three such courtrooms, the project had faced delay in the past over budget allocations.

“However, now the money has been allocated. There is a meeting between architects and officials of the PWD following which, the design for such courtrooms will be finalised,” he said.