The Maharashtra Government informed the Bombay High Court that it be allotting 30.16 acres of land in Bandra East for construction of the High Court Complex.
Advocate General Birendra Saraf informed the court that it has been agreed by the Public Works Department for surrendering the land for New Bombay High Court Building. Therefore, it will allow the process of formal reservation and GR.
However, the complex would be having central tribunals, chambers for lawyers along with the chambers of judges, it has been stated by Advocate General Birendra Saraf that a circular was handed over to the bench by the PWD.
In the present case, a contempt plea was filed by advocate Ahmed Abdi, wherein seeking implementation of the High Court’s 2019 order in his Public Interest Litigation, PIL highlighting the need for shifting the court premises to a building which is more spacious.
The bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep Marne was hearing the matter.
In the case, the court disposed of the contempt plea, the PIL filed is listed for compliance on 10.06.2023. It has also been stated by Advocate Abdi that the plea has been pending for several years.
However, the Bombay High Court in the year 2019 had injuncted the state government from taking any decision on a 44-acre Bandra East plot till the court took a stand on the new Bombay High Court complex. The High Court in the case observed that essentially the justice was denied to the litigants by the Government while delaying the decision.
The division bench comprising of Justice AS Oka and Justice MS Sonak passed the said order.
It has also been noted by the bench that the current building was meant to house which being around six to seven courts when in the year 1878, it became functional, though an institution was established by High Court in 1862. At present, the sanctioned strength of the court comprising of 94 judges and, around 35 judges are serving in the 138-year-old building, The court found the space to be insufficient.
The court noted that the buildings as it stands does not have adequate space for court rooms, the chambers for judges and lawyers and also for thousands of litigants who come each day.
Accordingly, the circular issued by PWD stated that the area reserved for chamber of lawyers would generate revenue.