Kerala Govt Approaches Supreme Court Seeking Permission To Use HMT Land For 'Judicial City' To Relocate High Court

The Kerala Government has approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to take possession of 27 acres of land currently held by Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) at Kalamassery, for establishing a proposed “Judicial City” meant to house the Kerala High Court's judicial wing and associated infrastructure.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the HMT and other respondents on the application.

The State has sought permission to " take possession of 27 acres now under the possession of HMT subject to the state depositing the compensation for transfer of 27 acres, as per the `Basis Valuation Report, 2014' by way of an FDR, in the name of the Registrar General of the High Court, in a nationalized bank"

The application has been filed in a long-pending civil appeal arising from a 2014 judgment of the Kerala High Court, which had held that the land assigned to HMT decades ago could not be subjected to ceiling proceedings under the Kerala Land Reforms Act, as it was originally government land allotted after the statutory cutoff dates. The Supreme Court had issued notice in 2016 and ordered status quo, which continues to operate.

The State has now requested a modification of the 2016 interim order, similar to earlier relaxations granted by the Supreme Court in 2024 and 2025 allowing portions of HMT land to be used for public infrastructure projects, including the Seaport-Airport Road and a KINFRA Hi-Tech Park. In both instances, the Court had permitted utilisation of the land subject to the State depositing its market value, calculated as per the 2014 Basic Valuation Report,in a fixed deposit in the name of the Registrar General of the High Court.

Assuring the same arrangement, the government has offered to deposit the consideration for the 27 acres in a nationalised bank, with the payment to HMT made subject to the final outcome of the appeal.

According to the application, the High Court's present 11-acre complex in Kochi is severely congested, with insufficient court halls, chambers, parking, administrative space and limited scope for expansion. The government says the High Court has indicated the need for at least 30 lakh sq ft of built-up area in the coming years.

The State began exploring relocation to Kalamassery after the High Court administration requested additional space. A High-Power Committee comprising six judges of the High Court has been holding consultations since early 2024. The Chief Minister has approved, in principle, the requirement of at least 50 acres for the Judicial City project, though only 27 acres of HMT land are presently available.

Committee inspections and subsequent reviews concluded that around 75 acres would eventually be required, but the first phase could commence on the available parcel.

The 900-acre land bank at Kalamassery was originally government land acquired in the 1960s for establishing a machine tool factory in the Central Sector. While parts of the land were later transferred to agencies such as the Naval Armament Depot and KSEB, substantial portions remained unutilised by HMT. The State attempted to resume 400 acres, leading to litigation that eventually resulted in the High Court's 2014 judgment.

Following a 2000 government notification, HMT retained 100 acres, of which it later sold 70 acres to a private real-estate firm and handed over 3 acres to the NIA. The State now seeks to utilise the remaining 27 acres for the Judicial City project.

The State has requested that the Supreme Court permit it to take over the land, subject to depositing compensation as per the 2014 valuation, arguing that the project is essential for meeting the High Court's long-term infrastructural needs and that continuing the status quo would cause irreparable hardship.

AOR Nishe Rajen Shinker, Advocates Alim Anver, Santosh K and Anna Oommen appeared for the State Government. 

Case Details : HMT (MACHINE TOOLS) LTD v. TALUK LAND BOARD KANAYANNUR & ORS| CIVIL APPEAL No.271 OF 2016