Chandigarh, Aug. 20 -- Facing acute shortage of space, the Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has directed the UT administration to explore the possibility of allotting two floors of the old secretariat building in Sector 9 for housing some branches of the HC.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by the high court employees association secretary Vinod Dhatterwal, highlighting the space constraints at the HC and possible sites for additional courtrooms and facilities. As against the sanctioned strength of 85, the HC has only 69 operational court-rooms. This dissuades it from working full strength.

"We have been informed that the offices of secretariat of UT Chandigarh have been shifted to a newly constructed building,...