SC directs Maharashtra govt to conduct safety audit of Bombay HC bldg

Bombay High Court/ File Photo

The Supreme Court asked the Maharashtra government on Tuesday to perform a safety audit of the 150-year-old Bombay High Court building due to worries about its safety and the need for more space. A special bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices B R Gavai, and J B Pardiwala directed the government to expedite plans for the site designated for the construction of a new high court building in Mumbai, reported PTI.

According to the report, the bench emphasised the importance of the matter, stating that the state government should act quickly to provide the amenities demanded by the high court. It instructed the state's Public Works Department (PWD) to take the matter seriously and meet with the high court to expedite the necessary designs.

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The bench highlighted the necessity of maintaining structural safety in the existing premises and directed the State PWD to perform a safety examination promptly. The court also ordered the administration to submit an update on the efforts taken at the next hearing.

"In order to ensure the structural safety of the existing premises, the State PWD will forthwith conduct a safety audit and apprise it on the next hearing of the steps taken on that regard," the bench said.

The Supreme Court's suo motu jurisdiction was invoked in response to a letter appeal from Bombay Bar Association president Nitin Thakker and other bar leaders underlining the Bombay High Court's urgent need for additional housing, the PTI report added.

According to the report, recognising the urgent need for greater space, the bench remarked that the current structure is 150 years old and granted the Maharashtra government's petition for land allotment in Bandra East, Mumbai. It acknowledged the difficulties associated with transferring residents from government housing colonies that already occupy some of the proposed property.

"The assumption of the suo motu jurisdiction of this court has been premised on the urgent needs of accommodation for the High Court of judicature at Bombay. The existing building is 150 years old. The High Court has approved the proposal of the Maharashtra government for land at Bandra East in Mumbai," the bench said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that he supports the development of a new high court building and was urged to help resolve the issue, the report added.

The Supreme Court pledged that its intervention would not disrupt proceedings before the Bombay High Court. Previously, the Bombay High Court had asked the Maharashtra PWD to study the availability of land in Goregaon for the new high court complex, taking accessibility considerations into account the proposed coastal road.