PATNA, July 3 -- Patna High Court has directed the authorities to ensure that all parks constructed at the cost of the state exchequer on the government land be opened for the public across the state after completing necessary formalities/cleanliness on or before July 7, 2025. The court has also specified timing for all the parks -- during summer 5 am to 8 pm and during winter (November to February) 6 am to 7 pm. The order by Justice Rajiv Roy was delivered on July 25, but uploaded on Friday. The order came while hearing a petition filed by the Patna Zila Sudhar Samiti during which the locals/lawyers also raised the issue of public parks remaining closed around the year. After the court took the issue of locked parks on record, the executive engineer of the garden division, Bihar filed an affidavit that pursuant to the court order, all the parks had been opened. Vikas Kumar, amicus curiae appointed by the court to visit parks in the city and assess the situation, informed the bench that Dr BR Ambedkar Park opposite Patna HC was opened on June 24 evening only, which is just before the hearing. The amicus curiae also assured to visit different parks in Rajendra Nagar and other localities to know the status. He also raised the maintenance issue and how the caretaker at Gandhi Maidan and Netaji Park has allowed stalls of food items on the boundary wall and the customers throw empty cup, plates and packets in the park. The bench termed as "disturbing" the state of Gandhi Maidan, where there is encroachment all along the boundary wall, Netaji Park and other parks and observed that "the authorities are duty bound to to ensure that the prestigious parks are kept clean and free from any encroachment in and around the boundary wall. It has sought reply on this. The court said the caretakers of the parks could charge Rs 1/2 for using toilet but the amount charged should be displayed on the board. "The caretakers could also fine Rs 20 to anyone found littering garbage, but with proper receipts only," he added. The court also directed the authorities to ensure maintenance and cleaning of parks, including toilets. The state government will file a comprehensive reply after getting reports from different districts of the state on the next date of hearing, which is July 25....