Lawyers of Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) will vote on the proposal to relocate the High Court, deciding between Chandigarh’s heritage site and Sarangpur’s modern complex.
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Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) is set to decide, through voting, whether the High Court should shift from its present premises or not. Members of the Bar will soon vote on whether the High Court should remain at its iconic present location in Sector 1, Chandigarh, or be shifted to Sarangpur, where a modern, expansive complex is proposed to be built.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court currently sits in Sector 1, within the Chandigarh Capitol Complex, an architectural marvel and UNESCO World Heritage site. While this location is symbolic and historically significant, it falls within the eco-sensitive catchment area of Sukhna Lake, which limits expansion even as the court struggles with a shortage of functional courtrooms.
With a sanctioned strength of 85 judges, the High Court presently has only 69 operational courtrooms. The congestion, inadequate infrastructure, and growing case pendency have intensified calls for change.
Two Competing Proposals
1. Expansion at the Current Site:
One option is to build additional infrastructure opposite the PHHCBA Bar Room.
Key features:
- Two-level underground parking
- Three above-ground floors
- 16 new courtrooms
- Estimated cost: Rs 200 crores
Challenges:
- UNESCO approval is mandatory, which may take 18 months and is uncertain.
- Completion may take over 5 years.
- Congestion, dust, parking shortages, and disruptions during construction.
- May still not meet long-term needs.
2. Shifting to Sarangpur:
The second proposal, already unanimously approved by PHHCBA’s Executive Committee on August 20, 2025, envisions relocating the High Court to Sarangpur village.
Highlights:
- 48.865 acres of land (15 acres already allotted)
- 42 lakh sq. ft. constructed space
- Sufficient capacity for 20–25 years
Connectivity advantages:
- Planned metro station nearby
- 200 foot wide road from the PGI side
- Removal of the marble market to ease traffic flow
- Direct access from Mohali and the Airport side
- Multiple entry/exit points with wide gates
Both projects are likely to take 5–7 years for completion.
The Court’s Intervention
On August 22, a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Ramesh Kumari made it clear that such a decision cannot rest solely on the Executive Committee.
“What about the General Body? This is a very important decision. Unless the General Body agrees, I don’t think we should go ahead.”
The Court ordered that the resolution be placed before the General Body of PHHCBA, whose decision would be binding.
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The PHHCBA has announced a poll, allowing every member to decide the High Court’s future. Voting dates will be notified soon.
“The decision is yours for which you must cast your valuable vote,”
the Association said in its appeal.
According to PHHCBA Secretary Gagandeep Jammu, the dates and procedure for voting will be communicated in due course.
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