Supreme Court upholds veranda and parking area development within Chandigarh Capitol Complex, a UNESCO site.
Case in News
SC upholds HC order on veranda construction in UNESCO World Heritage Site Capitol Complex.
Case Overview
Case Name : Chandigarh Administration vs. Registrar General, High Court of Punjab and Haryana
In a significant judgment concerning heritage and infrastructure the Supreme Court upheld the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directions related to infrastructural improvements within the Capitol Complex a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta dismissed the appeal by the Chandigarh Administration which opposed the construction of a veranda and the development of a kutcha parking area with green pavers citing possible violation of heritage guidelines . The Court emphasized the practical necessity of the construction and held that it was not in conflict with heritage protection norms .
Key Aspects
The matter revolved around the balance between heritage preservation and modern infrastructural needs within the High Court premises :
- Veranda construction outside Courtroom No . 1 aligned with the design of existing verandas (Courtrooms 2–9) .
- PIL filed in 2023 by the HC Secretary triggered orders for better infrastructure .
- Chandigarh Administration cited UNESCO heritage status of Capitol Complex designed by Le Corbusier .
- The High Court noted rain-related difficulties for litigants in the Chief Justice’s block .
- Orders also included laying green pavers and planting 100–200 trees to combat High Court parking crisis .
Legal Insights
The Court addressed compliance, environmental concerns and procedural propriety :
- Contempt proceedings from December 2024 paused for 12 weeks to allow compliance .
- HC orders dated Nov 29, Feb 7 and Feb 21, 2025, upheld as sustainable and lawful .
- Veranda and green pavers deemed essential; consultation with Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee occurred .
- Administration may seek ex post facto approval if necessary under UNESCO norms .
- Focus placed on minimal, eco-friendly development under public interest .
Court’s Verdict
The Supreme Court found no violation of UNESCO World Heritage Site guidelines in the High Court’s infrastructural directives. All four orders were upheld and the Chandigarh Administration was granted a 12-week window to comply with contempt proceedings put on hold during this period .
Source- Supreme Court of India
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