Supreme Court stays construction at Punjab & Haryana HC amid concerns it will affect UNESCO heritage status

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed Punjab and Haryana High Court's direction to the Chandigarh Administration to construct a verandah outside the court room of High Court Chief Justice..The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed the order after Chandigarh Administration moved the top court stating that such construction would affect the UNESCO heritage status of the Chandigarh Capitol Complex of which the High Court building is a part. The Court also stayed a contempt of court notice issued to the UT Chief Engineer by the High Court for non-compliance of its order."The direction for construction of verandah by the UT Administration and the contempt notice against the Chief Engineer shall remain stayed," the top court ordered.It also issued notice to the High Court and other respondents on UT Administration's plea..The High Court had on November 29 last year directed UT Administration to start construction of verandah in front of court room No.1 in line with and of the same type as already exists in front of Court Rooms No. 2 to 9, within a period of two weeks and complete the process of construction within four weeks thereafter."The order was passed in a case related to the infrastructure at its premises. Before the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the UT Administration, argued that authorities are concerned about the international heritage status of the building."Neither Bar needs this. Construction would change the heritage structure. constructing the verandah cannot become subject of ego for us. We have been given world heritage site by UNESCO," Mehta submitted.The Court was also told that as per officials, the construction of a verandah will bring a visual change to the facade of the iconic building..The High Court building has been designed by Le Corbusier, a French Architect. "The construction of this unique building, which opened a new phase for concrete construction, was done by Messrs Hindustan Construction Corporation Ltd. Bombay under the supervision of Sh KC lyya. It is one of the most beautiful High Courts in India with 40 spacious and luxuriously furnished courtrooms; 3 Bar rooms; a well-equipped Judges' library, a dispensary and a very good canteen. Its location in the lap of Himalayas beyond the limits of the city, beside Assembly Hall and Sukhna Lake add to its beauty," as per description of the building available on the High Court website.