Pune, 13 October 2025: The growing parking shortage and traffic chaos in Pune have now reached the gates of justice. Around the Shivajinagar District Court, the lack of proper parking facilities has become a daily struggle for lawyers, litigants, and citizens visiting the court.
Every day, hundreds of lawyers and visitors rush to reach the court on time for hearings. However, finding a spot to park their vehicles often takes longer than expected. With limited space inside the premises, many are forced to park outside or along nearby roads.
Even when vehicles are parked carefully without obstructing traffic, the traffic police continue to issue fines, lawyers have alleged.
The situation has caused frustration among court visitors. “We already struggle with delayed hearings, and now the parking issue adds more stress. If we don’t find parking on time, we miss hearings, and on top of that, we get fined,” said litigant Ashok Shewale, who had come to attend a hearing.
Senior advocate Rahul Dindokar echoed the concerns, saying, “Hundreds of lawyers visit the court every day, and most of us use two-wheelers. Even when we park properly, we find fine receipts on our vehicles. Until proper parking is arranged, the police should cooperate instead of penalizing us.”
Responding to the complaints, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Himmat Jadhav said that action is taken only against vehicles parked in a way that obstructs traffic. “Improperly parked vehicles create congestion. If the court administration or civic body provides sufficient parking space, this issue can be resolved,” he stated.
Lawyers have urged authorities to set up a dedicated and organized parking facility within or near the court premises. They have also requested that the police suspend fines until adequate parking arrangements are made and waive fines imposed on vehicles that did not obstruct traffic.
The ongoing parking crisis at the Pune District Court highlights a growing urban problem, shrinking public space amid rising vehicle numbers, now affecting even the very institutions that uphold justice.