Today, On 14th October, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud emphasized that the Supreme Court’s expansion is not just about increasing space, but also about improving the delivery of timely justice. At the ground-breaking ceremony for the new building, he highlighted the importance of this development for the judiciary. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also attended the event, which marks a significant step toward enhancing the court’s infrastructure.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court building in New Delhi is set for further expansion to accommodate additional courtrooms. Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, along with Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, participated in the ground-breaking ceremony for the new structure.
The event also graced by sitting Supreme Court judges Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, BV Nagarathna, and former judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul. Union Power and Housing Minister Manohar Lal attended the ceremony as well. In a symbolic gesture, the dignitaries used pickaxes to mark the start of construction.
The ceremony began with the recitation of verses from the scriptures of four major religions in India, and the CJI was later seen posing for photos with the spouses of Supreme Court judges.
The CJI revealed that the new building will span 86,000 square meters and be built in two phases. The first phase, covering 38,250 square meters, expected to take 29 months to complete.
It will feature two basements and a five-story building, with the ground floor dedicated to facilities for lawyers, such as a library, canteen, and offices for the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA). The upper floors will house courtrooms, offices, and chambers, with a special 17-judge bench on the fifth floor.
The second phase, covering 48,250 square meters, will add 29 more courtrooms and additional offices and chambers across three and four-story blocks.
CJI Chandrachud said,
“We are not just adding space but expanding to deliver justice timely,”
He emphasized the sustainable design of the project, including site planning, indoor air quality control, and the use of local materials.
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The expansion will also be inclusive, featuring accessibility accommodations for persons with disabilities such as automatic doors, adjustable furniture, and accessible restrooms.
The CJI remarked,
“This expansion shall serve as a living entity like our Constitution, adapting to the needs of society while holding firm to core values such as justice, liberty, and equality. Today’s event signifies not only physical expansion but also our responsiveness to the growing needs of the nation,”
The CJI highlighted that the expansion project is designed with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability.