A SLICE OF HISTORY

1778

Courts are visited by all and sundry, but rarely does a visitor pause to admire the architecture of these stately buildings. A first-of-its-kind book is all set to change this. At a recent event in Delhi, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi and Justice SA Bobde released a coffee table book titled Architecture of Justice. This 223-page book with black and white and colour photos is the handiwork of father-son duo Vinay Thakur and Amogh Thakur.

The book has photos of the Supreme Court, the 24 High Courts and its 12 benches. It includes 20 panoramic shots which show off the court buildings in all their glory, interior shots of courtrooms which portray their grandness and solemnity and is replete with interesting trivia. Speaking at the launch, the CJI said the book reminded him of the lines of poet WH Davies: “What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare…” Justice Bobde called the book a rarity. Vinay Thakur, a lawyer-cum-photographer, said: “Our court structures are a classic piece of history from India’s pre-Independence days…I want readers to rejoice in this aspect of history of India and her glorious past.” Here are some photographs from the book:

A view of the illuminated Supreme Court

The Uttarakhand High Court building in Nainital reflects British architecture

Stained glass and fretted woodwork adorn the court of the chief justice at Madras High Court

Gauhati High Court, overlooking the Brahmaputra

Calcutta High Court

Hyderabad High Court

The High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur

District Customary Court of the Kohima bench of Gauhati High Court

The High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru

The court of the chief justice at Bombay High Court

 

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