The Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) is preparing for a decisive vote on whether the High Court should relocate from its iconic address in Sector 1, Chandigarh, to a new campus in Sarangpur village. This development follows an Executive Committee resolution passed on August 20, endorsing the move. However, the High Court has made it clear that the final word rests with the Bar’s General Body.
The debate stems from mounting infrastructural challenges at the current premises, which forms part of the Chandigarh Capitol Complex—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strict heritage guidelines have made any major expansion nearly impossible, leaving the court grappling with acute space constraints.
Two proposals have emerged to address these limitations. The first involves expanding within the existing site by adding 16 new courtrooms and an underground parking facility near the Bar Room, at an estimated cost of ₹200 crore. Yet, this option faces significant hurdles: clearance from UNESCO could take over a year, and the construction process risks disrupting day-to-day operations.
The second, and widely favored, alternative is to shift the High Court to Sarangpur. The plan envisages a state-of-the-art judicial complex spread across more than 48 acres, offering approximately 42 lakh square feet of built-up area. The proposed infrastructure promises to accommodate future growth, ensuring space for up to 140 courtrooms and modern amenities. Enhanced connectivity is also a major advantage, with provisions for multiple access points, widened roads, flyovers, and a proposed metro link to ease traffic flow.
While the Executive Committee has strongly backed relocation, the High Court bench, led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, has emphasized that such a critical decision cannot bypass the mandate of the General Body. The voting date is expected to be announced soon, and its outcome will shape the trajectory of one of the region’s most significant judicial institutions for decades to come.