“Officers' Lives Under Peril”: Bombay High Court Ask State To List Steps Taken For Change In Revenue Records For New HC Building In Bandra

The Bombay High Court on Monday expressed displeasure at the lack of progress by the Maharashtra Government in handing over vacant land for the construction of the new Bombay High Court building in Bandra.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor was informed that the government colony was yet to be shifted and changes were still pending in the revenue records.

The court pointed out the dangerous conditions under which the HC staff is currently working.

“What will the High Court do by taking possession of land that is not vacant? You need to work it out… You are better acquainted with the condition of the (present HC building). Go to that side and you can't walk to the stairs. Our officers there…their lives are in peril. They work in a very dangerous condition. There is no space for storage, nothing.”

The court was hearing disposed of PIL filed by Advocate Ahmed Abdi for compliance. In 2019 the HC injuncted the State from taking any decision on a 44-acre plot at Bandra East plot till it took a stand on the new court complex.

Then last year the Advocate General informed the HC that it will allot 30.16 acres of land for construction of the new HC complex in Bandra East.

The PWD claimed that 8.5 hectare (21.004 acre) of land will be allotted for the judicial complex and residences of judges, while 3.63 hectare (8.969 acre) will be commercially developed for central tribunal and lawyers' chambers and the government will receive revenue from it.

However, there has been little progress since then. The AGP had no answer when the court asked if there was a plan in place to relocate the government employees residing with their families in the Government colony.

“There are government quarters to be accommodated. Where will you shift them? Some are HC employees.”

“Yes, the attempt is to at least get the land vacant so that the HC's name can be entered in the revenue records,” the AGP said.

Advocate Ahmed Abdi submitted that the State was only making false promises to the court and it didn't have the intention of doing anything.

The court then directed the AGP to file an affidavit of the competent authority giving details of the steps taken so far for handing over the vacant land for construction of the new HC building.

The matter will be heard next on March 28, 2024.