Will retain heritage nature of court building even after relocation, says Bombay high court

MUMBAI: The heritage nature of the Bombay high court building near Flora Fountain will be retained even after the court relocates to a bigger complex at Bandra (E), said a bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Amjad Sayed on Tuesday, while addressing concerns over the heritage structure after the shifting. It heard a PIL regarding the severe space crunch at the nearly 140-year-old structure.
The government agreed to allot land at Government Colony following the area’s redevelopment.
Acting advocate general Rohit Deo told the court it is exploring two options for finalizing the master plan for the HC township and it will be ready by December 31. “We take it that the area to be allotted to the high court will be decided by then,” said Justice Oka.
The judges admitted the PIL for final hearing. In their order, they said there is complete absence of facilities in the present high court complex which was built to accommodate “four to five courts”. The bench said 35 of the current 64 judges of a sanctioned strength of 94 function at the principal seat in Mumbai. They added that 15 more judges are to be appointed before the year-end.
The bench said the state, while allotting land, will have to consider 75-100 years time frame and make available world-class facilities.