Punjab & Haryana HC Bar Association Opposes Relocation Of High Court Premises, Seeks Extension Of Existing Site
Aiman J. Chishti
23 Sept 2025 10:41 AM IST
In a resolution passed on Monday (September 22), the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (HCBA) General Body unanimously affirmed that retaining the High Court at its present location is in the best interests of the legal fraternity.
The High Court is located in the capital city of Chandigarh at the foot hills of Shivalik Range. It was designed by the famous French architect Le Corbusier and thus boasts of being an 'architectural marvel'.
A bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry in a PIL, considering the increasing footfall and space constraints, had asked the Chandigarh UT Administration to explore alternative locations for the construction of a new High Court building.
It had directed the HCBA and the UT Administration to hold a joint meeting. On August 20, the Bar Association Executive Committee unanimously approved a resolution to shift the High Court to Chandigarh's Sarangpur village, where a new building would be constructed.
While hearing the PIL on August 22, the Court said that resolution of the Executive committee to shift the building, “be placed before the General Body (of HCBA) which, if passed, would be accepted and not otherwise."
On Monday, the Bar Association's General Body passed the following resolution:
1. The Punjab & Haryana High Court shall not be shifted to Sarangpur (U.T. Chandigarh) or any other alternative site under any circumstances.
2. The Bar Association shall make every possible endeavour to secure the de-reservation of the adjoining forest land and to ensure the extension of the High Court at its present location.
3. That the Bar Association strongly believes that the continuation of the High Court at its present site is in the best interest of the legal fraternity, litigant public, and the administration of justice.
4. That copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the Hon'ble the Chief Justice and Companion Judges of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, the Hon'ble Law Minister, Government of India, the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana, and the Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, for their kind consideration and necessary action.