Chandigarh, August 22: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday said it remained open to shifting its premises, but only if the General Body of the High Court Bar Association concurred with such a move. The observation came as the bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Ramesh Kumari resumed hearing on the issue of space constraints in the court complex.
During the proceedings, three possible options were discussed — relocating the high court to a new site at Sarangpur village, expanding the existing campus by converting adjoining forest land into non-forest area, and constructing a new structure opposite the Bar Room with underground parking and additional courtrooms. The proposed project, estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore, would require clearance from UNESCO due to the heritage status of the Capitol Complex.
Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain informed the bench that a series of meetings had been held with stakeholders since August 5. “In the first meeting, there was almost unanimity that the present space and accommodation for the court, lawyers, and parking was inadequate for the effective functioning of the high court. These problems are getting aggravated day by day,” Jain told the court.
He said the Bar Association’s president was asked to consult members on whether they preferred to remain at the current location or shift to a new building at Sarangpur. Jain also disclosed that the possibility of constructing a high court at IT Park was explored but ruled out by the UT Administration, which said no land could be allotted there.
At a subsequent meeting, the Bar Association’s president presented a resolution of its executive committee, which declared the current facilities insufficient and supported opting for a new complex at Sarangpur as offered by the Chandigarh Administration.
The bench, however, noted that the resolution needed to be endorsed by the Bar’s General Body before it could be acted upon. “The executive committee has passed a resolution that they are ready and willing to search for an alternative site for the high court. Let the resolution of the executive committee be placed before the General Body, which if passed, would definitely be accepted by the court, not otherwise,” the bench recorded.
During the hearing, concerns were also raised that construction of a completely new high court complex at Sarangpur, along with related facilities, could take “not less than 10 years.” As an interim step, the court considered additional construction within the existing premises.
Jain further suggested that the adjoining forest land could be converted into non-forest land to allow expansion. He sought a week’s time to respond on this aspect. He also informed the bench that another proposal under consideration involved a new block opposite the Bar Room with three underground parking levels, three floors above ground, 16 courtrooms, and 16 judges’ quarters. The structure, he said, could significantly ease congestion in the existing premises.
