Mangaluru: All 28 court halls in the Mangaluru District Court complex will soon be fully air-conditioned, Principal District and Sessions Judge Basavaraj said on Monday after inaugurating air-conditioning facilities in five court halls within the complex.

The newly air-conditioned halls include the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Court hall and the Principal Civil Judge and Chief Judicial Magistrate court hall. The initiative is aimed at improving working conditions for judicial officers, advocates and court staff.

₹2 crore spent on air-conditioning project

Speaking on the occasion, Basavaraj said a total of ₹2 crore has been spent on the installation of split air-conditioning units across the court complex.

He noted that air-conditioning facilities were necessary considering the working environment within court halls, especially during periods of high temperatures and humidity.

According to the judge, improved infrastructure would help judicial officers and advocates perform their duties more efficiently and comfortably.

“Air-conditioners were needed for the court halls at the district court complex. Judicial officers and advocates can work better under air-conditioned conditions,” he said.

The project marks a significant infrastructure upgrade for the district judiciary and is expected to enhance the overall court environment for litigants and legal professionals alike.

Five court halls already operational

The air-conditioning systems have already become operational in five court halls. Work on the remaining halls is progressing and authorities expect all courts within the complex to be covered in the coming days.

The initiative follows long-standing demands from members of the legal fraternity for improved facilities within court premises.

Advocates have often highlighted the need for better infrastructure to ensure a conducive working atmosphere, particularly in coastal regions where humidity levels remain high for most of the year.

With the completion of the project, all 28 court halls in the district court complex will have modern cooling facilities.

Bar Association welcomed the move

President of the Mangaluru Bar Association H.V. Raghavendra welcomed the development and said the association had actively pursued the proposal for installation of air-conditioners in the court halls.

He pointed out that similar facilities have already been introduced in courts located in Moodbidri and Puttur.

According to Raghavendra, the association had submitted a proposal seeking air-conditioning facilities for all court halls in the district court complex, considering the needs of advocates, litigants and judicial officers.

He expressed satisfaction that the proposal had now materialised and said the remaining court halls would become operational with air-conditioning facilities within a few days.

Updated advocates’ directory launched

During the programme, Basavaraj also released an updated advocates’ directory containing contact details of lawyers practising in Mangaluru.

The directory is expected to serve as a useful reference for members of the legal fraternity and facilitate better communication among advocates and judicial stakeholders.

The publication has been updated with the latest contact information of practising advocates in the city.

Judicial officers attend event

Several members of the judiciary and legal community attended the inauguration programme.

Among those present were 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge Shridhar Gopalakrishna Bhat and Principal District Court Prosecutor Judith O.M. Crasta.

The event highlighted ongoing efforts to modernise court infrastructure and improve facilities for all stakeholders associated with the justice delivery system.

Conclusion

The installation of air-conditioning systems across all 28 court halls in the Mangaluru District Court complex represents a major infrastructure enhancement for the district judiciary. With ₹2 crore invested in the project and five court halls already operational, the remaining halls are expected to be air-conditioned shortly, creating a more comfortable and efficient working environment for judges, advocates and court staff.