Under What Terms Was High Court Building Declared UNESCO World Heritage Site?: Punjab & Haryana HC Asks Chandigarh

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has asked the Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh the legal status of Le Corbusier Foundation, Paris, the terms & conditions subject which High Court original building was declared UNESCO World Heritage site.Notably, Chandigarh was planned by the famous French architect Le Corbusier, who also designed the High Court building, which was declared as UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016. The Supreme Court had on January 10 stayed the interim order dated November 29, 2024, in which direction was passed against the Chandigarh Administration to begin the construction of a Verandah outside the Court 1 of the Chief Justice's Court of the High Court.For context, the Chandigarh Administration had challenged the order of the High Court in a Special Leave Petition (SLP) arguing that the construction of the verandah requires approval from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee since the High Court's building is a part of the Capitol Complex designed by the famous French architect Le Corbusier which was designated as the World Heritage site.Meanwhile on the verandah construction, a division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sudhir Singh in its order noted that the Apex Court had stayed the direction for construction of verandah and also restrained the High Court from proceeding further in contempt against the Chief Engineer, UT, Administration. The High Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2023 by the Secretary of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Vinod Dhatterwal relating to the infrastructural development of the Court. In the same plea it is also considering issues like parking problem in the High Court, Conversion of forest land into non-forest etc.The bench however stated that "counsel for the U.T. Administration is further directed to bring on record the legal status of Le Corbusier Foundation, Paris, the terms & conditions subject which High Court original building was declared UNESCO World Heritage site and also the legal status of Chandigarh Heritage Committee."On December 13, the High Court had noted that 2 weeks period had lapsed and the construction did not begin, and it had issued a contempt notice against the Chandigarh Administration and also directed that the Chief Engineer of the Chandigarh Administration, CB Ojha, be impleaded as a party against whom also the contempt notice was issued. The matter is listed for January 16, for further consideration.Case Title: VINOD DHATTERWAL AND OTHERS v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERSMr. Aashish Chopra, Senior Advocate with Ms. Rupa Pathania, Advocate, Mr. Varun Aryan Sharma, Advocate for the petitioner(s) (in CWP-PIL-9-2023).Mr. Aashish Chopra, Senior Advocate with Ms. Nitika Sharma, Advocate and Mr. Varun Aryan Sharma, Advocate for review applicant in RA-CW-259-2020in CWP-18253-2009.Ms. TanuBedi, Advocate (Amicus Curiae) (in RA-CW-252-2020).Mr. Rupinder Singh Khosla, Senior Advocate with Mr. Yogender Verma, Advocate for the petitioner (in CWP-27621-2013).Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Addl. Solicitor General of India with Mr. Arun Gosain, Senior Panel Counsel, UOI, for respondent No. 4.Mr. Jasdev S. Brar, Advocate (Acting President, P&H Bar Association) and Mr. Swarn Singh Tiwana, Advocate (Secretary, P&H High Court Bar Association).Click here to read/download the order

Under What Terms Was High Court Building Declared UNESCO World Heritage Site?: Punjab & Haryana HC Asks Chandigarh

Aiman J. Chishti

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