Pune District Court Lift Breakdowns Raise Safety Concerns; Advocate Seeks Urgent Action
Shivajinagar, 28th October 2026: Frequent breakdowns of all three lifts in the new District Court building in Shivajinagar have raised concerns over the safety of lawyers, litigants and other visitors. People have reportedly been trapped inside the lifts, while the alleged lack of emergency rescue arrangements and attendants has added to concerns, particularly for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Advocate Balasaheb Khopade, a former Additional Public Prosecutor and former general secretary of the Maharashtra State Public Prosecutors Association, Nagpur, has urged Pune District and Principal Judge Anju Shende to take immediate and permanent measures to address the issue.
The new court building houses more than 40 courtrooms, along with government pleaders’ offices, the District Legal Services Authority office and the bailiff’s office. More than 5,000 people, including litigants, police personnel and lawyers, visit the premises daily.
However, the building has only three lifts, which reportedly malfunction frequently. According to Khopade, the lifts also lack a backup power supply, leaving occupants at risk of being trapped during power outages.
Khopade said he was among those trapped in a lift on October 8 following a power failure. He and the other occupants were rescued with the help of government pleader Santoshkumar Patale.
He said the safety of everyone visiting the court premises must be given priority, as people come to courts seeking justice. The situation is particularly concerning for senior citizens and persons with disabilities who depend on lifts to access courtrooms and offices.
Khopade has urged the court administration to coordinate with the officials responsible for lift maintenance, the Public Works Department and technical maintenance teams to review the safety, upkeep and accessibility of the lifts.
He has also sought appropriate directions in accordance with the Bombay High Court’s guidelines to ensure that permanent measures are implemented to prevent such incidents and provide safe access to the court building.
