Calcutta High Court Orders Creche Facility In Court Premises To Become Functional Within 30 Days

The Calcutta High Court, on Thursday (January 22), directed its registry to ensure that creche facility in the court premises becomes operational within 30 days. 

The bench also directed the PWD to ensure two doctors and one nurse report to the High Court Administration one day prior to the opening, and that the aluminium grills that need to be fixed on the creche windows are fixed within stipulated timeframe. 

The Court was hearing a plea seeking the constitution of a creche facility in the sesquicentenary building of the High Court and the employment of adequate facilities to look after toddlers of Advocates, staff of Advocates and other employees of the High Court.

The division bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, in its order, dictated,

"In view of this matter, we deem it proper to issue the following directions
1. The High Court Administration shall put the approved guidelines for the operation of the creche on its website within 3 weeks from today
2. The PWD shall ensure the fixation of the aluminium grill in the creche wherever it is required
3. It shall be the duty of the State to provide two doctors and one staff nurse as per their own email 7-8-2021, and such staff must report to the High Court administration a day before the opening of the creche
4. The registry of this Court shall ensure that creche becomes functional within 30 days from today". 

During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner, relying on the High Court Administration report claimed that the creche was ready to be operational except for three issues. He submitted that there was a lack of aluminium grills on the windows of the creche; the requirement of adequate staff to operate the creche; and need for publication of relevant guidelines for operations of the creche on the High Court website. 

He further emphaszied that the guidelines for operation of the creche were approved by the then Chief Justice on April 7, 2022 and only needed to be published on the court's website.

He further emphaized that the PIL was not limited to the creche facility in the High Court but also extended to the availability of such a facility in District Courts across the State. 

The counsel for the High Court Administration prayed for 3 weeks' time to seek instructions and file a fresh report. The court, therefore, with the aforementioned directions granted three weeks' time to the Administration to file an affidavit showing the district-wise situation for opening creche facilities. 

Case Title: Atasi Ghosh v State

[WPA/14656/2019]