The case began with the High Court asking the Chandigarh Administration to add a verandah to the court premises. The High Court’s order, dated November 29 last year, mentioned that the Administration should begin the construction of the verandah as per the design for Court Rooms 2 to 9.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday (10th Jan) stayed the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order that directed the Chandigarh Administration to build a verandah outside the court room of the High Court Chief Justice.
The Bench, consisting of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, passed this order after the Chandigarh Administration filed a plea, arguing that such a construction would harm the UNESCO heritage status of the Chandigarh Capitol Complex, which includes the High Court building.
The Supreme Court also stayed the contempt notice issued by the High Court to the Chief Engineer of Chandigarh for not following its previous order. The High Court had instructed the Administration to begin the construction of the verandah outside court room No.1, similar to the verandahs in front of Court Rooms No. 2 to 9. The High Court had given the Administration a two-week deadline to start the work and a four-week period to complete it.
The Supreme Court’s order said, “The direction for construction of verandah by the UT Administration and the contempt notice against the Chief Engineer shall remain stayed.”
It also issued a notice to the High Court and other parties involved, asking them to respond to the Chandigarh Administration’s plea.
The case began with the High Court asking the Chandigarh Administration to add a verandah to the court premises. The High Court’s order, dated November 29 last year, mentioned that the Administration should begin the construction of the verandah as per the design for Court Rooms 2 to 9.
Before the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Chandigarh Administration, argued that the construction could negatively impact the heritage status of the building.
He said, “Neither Bar needs this. Construction would change the heritage structure. Constructing the verandah cannot become subject of ego for us. We have been given world heritage site by UNESCO.”
Officials also expressed concerns that the verandah construction would change the building’s visual appearance. The High Court building, designed by famous French architect Le Corbusier, is considered an architectural masterpiece.
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According to the description available on the High Court’s website,
“The construction of this unique building, which opened a new phase for concrete construction, was done by Messrs Hindustan Construction Corporation Ltd. Bombay under the supervision of Sh KC Iyyar. It is one of the most beautiful High Courts in India with 40 spacious and luxuriously furnished courtrooms; 3 Bar rooms; a well-equipped Judges’ library, a dispensary and a very good canteen. Its location in the lap of Himalayas beyond the limits of the city, beside Assembly Hall and Sukhna Lake add to its beauty.”
