Bombay High Court new building: HC Registrar General thanks Supreme Court for intervention

The Supreme Court was on Thursday informed that the progress in shifting the Bombay High Court from its present building to new premises is on track, with the Registrar General of the High Court also expressing thanks for the top court's intervention in the matter [In Re: Heritage Building of the Bombay High Court and Allotment Of Additional Lands for the High Court]..A Bench of Justices BR Gavai, AG Masih and Vinod Chandran was hearing a suo motu case initiated last year on concerns about the deterioration of the 150-year-old heritage building that currently houses the Principal Bench of the Bombay High Court. .Advocate General of Maharashtra (AG) Dr. Birendra Saraf appeared for the State government today and sought time till January 31 to finish handing over the land that will house the new Bombay High Court complex. He informed the Court that one tranche of land was already handed over last year and that about 5.25 acres of land was earlier planned to be handed over as part of a second tranche by December 31, 2024. However, due to certain difficulties, this handover could not be completed then but it is expected to be completed by January 31, the AG said. .He added that encroachers from these areas have been removed and that steps are being taken to shift the remaining occupants. He further said that the State has also identified alternate lands to accommodate those displaced by the land acquisition. Administrative and financial approvals have also been secured for a structural audit of the Bombay High Court building, the AG said. .The Registrar General (RG) of the High Court was also present for the hearing today, having joined through video conference. The Court recounted that the RG had earlier informed the previous Bench of the dilapidation and damage to the High Court building."Yes Mr. Registrar General, you want to add anything? ...You always had the last word, we want to know that," the Court added in a lighter vein, while addressing the RG."It's Milords' blessings. It's because of pendency (of this case), we got all these approvals," the RG replied. The Court went on to observe that the State of Maharashtra and the High Court appear to be on the same page when it comes to such infrastructural measures..In its order, it further recorded the AG's submission that a steering committee meeting called by the Bombay High Court Chief Justice is slated to be held this evening and that the State was making all efforts to ensure that the new building project is completed in a time-bound manner. Among other measures, it noted that a tender has also been floated to appoint a project management consultant. The Court listed matter for hearing next in April so that it will coincide with the end of one of the deadlines set for the project in March 2025 (for the handover of around 13 acres of land). .[Read Live Coverage]