Mumbai: D.Y. Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India, will attend Monday’s groundbreaking and foundation stone-laying event for the Bombay High Court’s new complex in Bandra East, northwest Mumbai.
The function will be attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and other Supreme Court Justices who have adorned the Bombay High Court, including Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice A.S. Oka, Justice Dipankar Datta, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, and Justice Prasanna B. Varale, as well as Bombay High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya.
The new High Court Complex, strategically located in Bandra East, will provide easy access to both the island city and the suburbs, the Western Express Highway, and the bustling international commercial hub of Bandra-Kurla Complex. The 30.16-acre land area is scheduled to be handed over to the High Court in a phased manner. The first tranche of 4.39 acres of land has been handed over.
The Bombay High Court, founded on August 16, 1862, is currently located at Flora Fountain, in a majestic building that the court has occupied since November 1878. Seven years in the making, when it was built, the High Court building was originally designed for 10 judges in six courtrooms, and seven judges occupied it. “Presiding over the State of Maharashtra, a leader among states in industrial and economic growth over the decades, with Mumbai, an international city buzzing with trade and commercial activity as its capital, the Bombay High Court needs better infrastructure that is commensurate with the times,” said the release issued by the state publicity department.
“Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony will mark the first step in the journey towards Mumbai having a world-class court infrastructure that would be designed keeping in mind future needs of the High Court for effective justice delivery,” reads the release.
The new court building is poised to become a defining architectural feature in the Mumbai skyline. Beyond its functional court infrastructure, including spacious courtrooms and chambers for judges and registry personnel, the building will also house an arbitration and mediation centre, auditorium, library, and other amenities. This comprehensive plan is designed to cater to the diverse needs of the court’s stakeholders, from staff and lawyers to litigants, and is a cause for anticipation and excitement.
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The new court building is not just about physical infrastructure. It’s about creating an inclusive space that caters to the diverse needs of all stakeholders. From banking and telecom services to medical facilities, a digitisation centre, a creche, a cafeteria, waiting areas, a multi-storey car park, a museum, and lawyers’ chambers, every aspect is designed with accessibility features to ensure the convenience of all, including differently-abled stakeholders.
The Bombay High Court is not just a legal institution but a symbol of Maharashtra’s rich legal heritage. With its jurisdiction over the State of Maharashtra, the State of Goa, and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, it plays a pivotal role in the region’s legal landscape. The High Court, with a sanctioned strength of 94 judges and a current strength of 66 sitting judges, is a testament to the state’s commitment to justice and the rule of law.
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–IANS
