CHANDIGARH ADMINISTRATION vs REGISTRAR GENERAL, HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA, CHANDIGARH AND OTHERS

Bench: 2 — Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta

In Brief

The Chandigarh Administration appealed against High Court orders directing construction of a protective verandah in front of Court Room No. 1 of the High Court building (a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Le Corbusier) and laying eco-friendly green paver blocks for parking. The Supreme Court upheld both orders. It held that the verandah—a removable protective structure aligned with pre-existing verandahs—does not constitute a 'major' alteration affecting heritage status and can be constructed without violating UNESCO guidelines. The High Court must provide facilities for lawyers and litigants facing unprotected exposure. For parking, the Court balanced pressing space needs (3,000-4,000 vehicles daily) with green cover by requiring tree plantation between green paver blocks. The Court gave twelve weeks' grace to comply.

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Administrative Law Constitutional Law Heritage Preservation Writ Jurisdiction Public Interest Litigation Sustainable Development UNESCO World Heritage Sites Judicial Architecture and Facilities

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