Bombay High Court Issues Urgent Restoration Order for Nagpur's Historic Old High Court Building
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating condition of the city's historic Old High Court Building and has issued a strict directive for its restoration. A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode ordered authorities to complete all necessary repair work within a six-month timeframe, emphasizing that the restoration must strictly adhere to archaeological conservation norms to preserve the structure's heritage character.
Court's Strong Observations on Neglect
During Friday's hearing, the bench noted with disappointment that no repair work had been undertaken on the British-era structure for nearly an entire year, despite its visibly fragile and dilapidated state. The judges underscored that the building holds significant historical value, having served as a "seat of justice for a long time," making its preservation an urgent priority. The court has scheduled the next hearing in this matter for March 9 to review progress.
Background and Inspection Report
The directives emerged during the hearing of three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) concerning the poor condition of the Old High Court Building. In a previous hearing, the bench had directed Deputy Registrar Ninad Ingle to conduct a thorough inspection of the structure and submit a detailed status report.
The report presented to the court painted a concerning picture, stating that the building is currently in a severely dilapidated condition. It warned that without immediate repairs, the structure could suffer further deterioration, potentially leading to irreversible damage. Taking serious note of these findings, the bench emphasized the necessity of preserving this architectural landmark.
Specific Court Directives for Restoration
The bench issued several specific orders to ensure proper restoration:
- Authorities must undertake restoration in a scientific manner that maintains the heritage character of the structure.
- The archaeological department must file a comprehensive affidavit detailing the exact procedure to be followed to complete restoration within six months.
- This affidavit must also specify potential challenges that could arise during the repair process and outline proposed measures to address those obstacles.
- To ensure continuous oversight, the matter will be listed for hearing every Monday to monitor the progress of restoration work.
Legal Representation in the Case
Mugdha Chandurkar appeared on behalf of the Central Government during the proceedings, while advocate Shreerang Bhandarkar represented the petitioners. Ashutosh Dharmadhikari assisted the court as amicus curiae, providing expert guidance on the legal and conservation aspects of the case.
The court's intervention highlights the growing recognition of heritage conservation in judicial proceedings and sets a precedent for protecting historically significant structures across the region.
