MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Friday asked the State if land in Goregaon can be made available for the court’s new complex premises after the State’s affidavit said 30 acres of Bandra east land would likely be available by 2026 after evicting the govt employees residing on part of it. The State in its affidavit said its endeavour was to make 13 vacant acres of the 30, available first, by end of March 2025.
A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor orally asked the State Public Works Department (PWD) to explore the availability of land in Goregaon, a western Suburb of Mumbai or any other land which is vacant and could be made available.
The CJ observed that the Chhattisgarh HC was getting nearly 100 acre for its complex. Advocate General Birendra Saraf then said earlier larger tract in Goregan was offered but found unacceptable due to accessibility issues.
The HC questioned the delay in handing over vacant possession of 30-odd acres in Bandra (E). It added Goregaon, now with proposed coastal road could be explored.
The court in oral discussions said proposed coastal road and metro network could improve connectivity for Goregaon plot. It was earing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer to improve the HC infrastructure.
Saraf said looking at Goregaon may amount to going back to ‘square one’ as State has come a long way after identifying Bandra as the new plot for the HC complex. But Saraf added it could be discussed at the HC administrative meeting.
The CJ said, “Can you give us details of the total available land at Goregaon? Not even a single displacement has taken place (at Bandra) and not even a single building… removed. By this, we will have a new HC building in 2030 (Bandra)… In the past Goregaon land was not accepted on the accessibility issue. It can be a better idea. It is just a loud thinking on my part,” CJ Upadhyaya remarked. The HC will hear the matter next in June.
The court said it would not stop the government’s proposal to declare the entire revamping and redevelopment of the land at Bandra govt colony to be a ‘vital project of public importance”. Steps would be taken post Polls, said the State. The process to remove encroachment and vacate buildings would be expedited then, the affidavit said.
The State’s reply said the Mumbai suburban collector had last May sanctioned the PWD proposal to allot the Bandra east plot for establishing the new High Court complex on an ‘as is where is basis.’ There are structures—residential quarters employed by govt servants’ and a community hall presently used for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections by the ECI.
The State also represented by additional govt pleader Abhay Patki said there are 12 suits before the city civil court and 31 petitions before the HC initiated by those it sought to evict from the premises. The Bandra Govt colony land also has encroachers for which there is a proposal to shift them to transit tenements. There are also three religious structures on it, the State added.
Ahmad Abdi, the advocate-petitioner had questioned non-compliance by the State on land allotment.
Last month the HC remarked how lack of space in its present heritage building constraints were faced during an oath taking ceremony of several Judges.
The AG said part of Goregaon land was later allotted to the Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU).
A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor orally asked the State Public Works Department (PWD) to explore the availability of land in Goregaon, a western Suburb of Mumbai or any other land which is vacant and could be made available.
The CJ observed that the Chhattisgarh HC was getting nearly 100 acre for its complex. Advocate General Birendra Saraf then said earlier larger tract in Goregan was offered but found unacceptable due to accessibility issues.
The HC questioned the delay in handing over vacant possession of 30-odd acres in Bandra (E). It added Goregaon, now with proposed coastal road could be explored.
The court in oral discussions said proposed coastal road and metro network could improve connectivity for Goregaon plot. It was earing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer to improve the HC infrastructure.
Saraf said looking at Goregaon may amount to going back to ‘square one’ as State has come a long way after identifying Bandra as the new plot for the HC complex. But Saraf added it could be discussed at the HC administrative meeting.
The CJ said, “Can you give us details of the total available land at Goregaon? Not even a single displacement has taken place (at Bandra) and not even a single building… removed. By this, we will have a new HC building in 2030 (Bandra)… In the past Goregaon land was not accepted on the accessibility issue. It can be a better idea. It is just a loud thinking on my part,” CJ Upadhyaya remarked. The HC will hear the matter next in June.
The court said it would not stop the government’s proposal to declare the entire revamping and redevelopment of the land at Bandra govt colony to be a ‘vital project of public importance”. Steps would be taken post Polls, said the State. The process to remove encroachment and vacate buildings would be expedited then, the affidavit said.
The State’s reply said the Mumbai suburban collector had last May sanctioned the PWD proposal to allot the Bandra east plot for establishing the new High Court complex on an ‘as is where is basis.’ There are structures—residential quarters employed by govt servants’ and a community hall presently used for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections by the ECI.
The State also represented by additional govt pleader Abhay Patki said there are 12 suits before the city civil court and 31 petitions before the HC initiated by those it sought to evict from the premises. The Bandra Govt colony land also has encroachers for which there is a proposal to shift them to transit tenements. There are also three religious structures on it, the State added.
Ahmad Abdi, the advocate-petitioner had questioned non-compliance by the State on land allotment.
Last month the HC remarked how lack of space in its present heritage building constraints were faced during an oath taking ceremony of several Judges.
The AG said part of Goregaon land was later allotted to the Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU).