Today(on12th April), Bombay High Court directs Maharashtra to assess Goregaon’s suitability for a new High Court complex, emphasizing land availability and coastal road access. This reflects the court’s openness to explore alternative sites amidst ongoing preparations for a new court building in Bandra.
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MUMBAI: Today(on12th April), the Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to assess the feasibility of locating the new High Court complex in Goregaon, emphasizing the need to evaluate land availability and access routes from the proposed coastal road. This directive comes amidst ongoing preparations for the construction of the new court building in Bandra, highlighting the court’s openness to explore alternative sites to meet its expanding requirements.
The discussion was presided over by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice AS Doctor, during a hearing concerning the allocation of land for the new court complex. The bench assured that the government’s designation of the Bandra site as a special area for a “public project of vital importance” would not be hindered by their request for exploring Goregaon as an alternative.
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The pursuit of a new High Court complex in Mumbai dates back to January 2019 when the High Court directed the Maharashtra state government to identify a large and convenient plot for its construction. Progress was noted in May 2023, with the government urging the court administration to take advance possession of a designated plot in Bandra East. However, complications arose as the land was not vacated and still housed government staff quarters, some of which accommodated High Court employees.
In a recent update to the court, Advocate General Birendra Saraf disclosed that the proposed site for the High Court in Bandra spans approximately 30.16 acres, with expectations to secure about 13.73 acres by January 2025. This revelation came alongside comparisons to other states, such as Chhattisgarh, which has allocated 100 acres for its new High Court building, underlining the disparity in land allocation for judicial infrastructure.
Although Goregaon was previously disregarded for the new complex due to accessibility concerns, the petitioner’s claim of a vacant 300-acre parcel in the area, albeit with a substantial portion already allocated to Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), led the court to reassess its viability, particularly considering the proposed coastal road’s potential to improve accessibility.
The bench thus requested a rough sketch from the government, illustrating how the coastal road could facilitate access to the Goregaon site. Advocate General Saraf suggested further discussions in an administrative meeting, acknowledging the efforts already invested in the Bandra project.
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“The possibility of using the Goregaon land is simply under consideration,”
-stated the bench,
indicating their openness to exploring other options without hindering the progress of the ongoing Bandra project. Saraf also mentioned the government’s intention to classify the project as “of significant importance” after the June 2024 elections, as part of a special initiative to refurbish more than 89 acres in Bandra, supported by the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) from the Republic of South Korea.
CASE TITTLE:
Ahmad Abdi v. State of Maharashtra & Ors.
