SC asks Maharashtra govt to 'forthwith' conduct safety audit of Bombay High Court building
New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Tuesday took note of concerns over the safety of the 150-year-old Bombay High Court building and the need for additional space, and directed the Maharashtra government to «forthwith» conduct a safety audit of the heritage structure. A special bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices B R Gavai and J B Pardiwala also asked the government to expedite drawings of the site earmarked for constructing new high court building in Mumbai.
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Observing that the state government «must act with alacrity» to fulfil the needs for facilities in the high court, the bench asked the state PWD to take up the matter in right earnest. It also said the high court may consult the state PWD and others on expediting the drawings.
«In order to ensure the structural safety of the existing premises, the State PWD will forthwith conduct a safety audit and apprise it on the next hearing of the steps taken on that regard,» the bench said.
The top court exercised its suo motu (on its own) jurisdiction in taking note of an April 29 letter petition of Bombay Bar Association president Nitin Thakker and other bar leaders. It titled the case 'Heritage Building of the Bombay High Court and allotment of additional lands for the High Court'.
«The assumption of the suo motu jurisdiction of this court has been premised on the urgent needs of accommodation for the High Court of judicature at Bombay. The existing building is 150 years old. The High Court
