Team Blitz India
THE Supreme Court has directed the Maharashtra Public Works Department to conduct a structural and safety audit of the Bombay High Court building in Fort, Mumbai before monsoon. The heritage building is nearly 150 years old and construction of a new building for the high court will take a few years.
The top court exercised its suo motu (on its own) jurisdiction in taking note of an April 29 petition of Bombay Bar Association premised on the urgent need for accommodation for the high court.
The existing building is 150 years and has been declared a heritage site. The high court has approved the proposal of the Maharashtra government for land at Bandra East for relocation of the court.
A special bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices B R Gavai and J B Pardiwala also asked the government to expedite drawings of the site earmarked for constructing the new building.
Observing that the state government “must act with alacrity” to fulfil the needs for facilities in the high court, the bench asked the state PWD to take up the matter in right earnest. It also said the high court may consult the state PWD and others on expediting the drawings.
