Bombay High Court urges Maharashtra government to handover land for new High Court complex at the earliest

The Bombay High Court today urged the Maharashtra government to grant vacant possession of land on which the new High Court complex will be constructed. .A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor was informed by Advocate General Dr. Birendra Saraf that meetings of the High Power Committee (HPC) ,which is examining the matter, will commence soon to discuss issues concerning the new High Court complex. .The Maharashtra government had earlier issued a government resolution on March 30 to allot 30.16 acres of land in Bandra for the construction of a new building for the High Court. A memorandum was signed with the Public Works Department (PWD) for this purpose, as the land was presently reserved for government housing.On May 19, the Revenue Department had issued an order authorising the transfer of 30 acres of land for the construction of a new court building.The land allotted at Bandra East for the new court complex is expected to have central tribunals as well as chambers for lawyers (8.9 acres) along with the High Court building (21 acres), which will also house judges' quarters. The government also plans to receive revenue from the portion of the land slated to be commercially developed for lawyers' chambers.On Wednesday, the Advocate General informed the Court that the State would require some time to change the reservation status of the land from a residential area to one for a commercial complex..The Court requested the Advocate General to convey to the concerned State officers to ensure that possession of the vacant land is handed over to the High Court administration soon.“We are trying to take possession of vacant land as soon as possible. We are simultaneously internally asking the State officers. Both processes, I am trying to initiate simultaneously. For possession, I am told there are structures on the land. The State may have their own problems and difficulties. Request your officers to give vacant possession of the land at the earliest as possible”, the Chief Justice said..The bench also informed the Advocate General that the court's administration has a plan in mind and will convey its proposal to the government officials on what all would be required in the new High Court complex.The Court will hear the plea next on October 11, 2023.