Chandigarh, August 25 – The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has announced that it will soon vote on whether the High Court building should be shifted to a new location.
The decision follows directions from the High Court in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting space constraints and rising footfall. The Court had asked the Chandigarh UT Administration to explore alternative sites for a new building. It also instructed the Bar Association and the UT Administration to hold a joint meeting under the chairmanship of Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain to deliberate on the matter.
On August 20, the Bar Association Executive Committee unanimously approved a resolution to move the High Court to Chandigarh’s Sarangpur village, where land has already been earmarked. While hearing the PIL on August 22, the Court said the Executive Committee’s resolution must be placed before the General Body. If the General Body passes it, the Court will accept the decision.
A total of 48.865 acres has been allocated for the High Court at Sarangpur, including 15 acres already allotted, offering nearly 42 lakh square feet of space exclusively for court use. An alternative proposal has also been floated to construct a new High Court building within the existing campus, opposite the Bar Room. This plan includes an additional 3 lakh square feet of space, 16 new courtrooms, and underground parking for 600–700 vehicles. However, it would require approval from the World Heritage committee under UNESCO guidelines.
Bar Association Secretary Gagandeep Jammu said the in-campus plan would leave lawyers with only about 60,000 square feet of space, which would be inadequate. He also raised concerns about delays, dust, blockades, and reduced parking during the estimated five-year construction period.
The Association noted that the current building has just two entry and exit points, which cannot be expanded, creating growing congestion as the number of judges, staff, and litigants increases. Urging members to vote, the Association appealed: “So either we stay congested here or we breathe into the future. The decision is yours for which you must cast your valuable vote.”
The schedule for voting will be announced soon.
