'Why Take So Much Time?': Supreme Court Asks Maharashtra Govt To Expedite Handover Of 10 Acres For Bombay HC New Building

In the suo moto case involving the issue of additional land allotment for Bombay High Court's new complex, the Supreme Court was informed today that as on date, possession of 20.19 acres of land has been handed over to the High Court and the remaining is proposed to be handed over by December 31.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was informed of the development by Maharashtra's Addl. Government Pleader-Jyoti Chavan, who submitted that out of remaining 10 acres, 5.27 acres are proposed to be handed over by July 31 and 4.74 acres by December 31.

Concerned about the time gap, the CJI posed to Chavan, "Why are you taking so much time? Then entire project will stand halted". In response, Chavan said that this was agreed upon in the affidavits since the inception and the plans have already been submitted to the Steering Committee.

Ultimately, the bench impressed upon the authorities to expedite the handing over of the remaining land and endeavor to complete the same at the earliest. It further called for a status report by August 1.

The Court also requested the High Court Steering Committee to give audience to the Bombay Bar Association, the Advocates Association of Western India, and any other recognized Bar Association "so that all stakeholders are taken on board before giving effect to the proposed project".

To recap, the Supreme Court took up the present suo motu case in 2024 in connection with allotment of additional land for a new building of the Bombay High Court, keeping in view the speedily dilapidating condition of the existing 150-year old structure.

This land (total 30.16 acres) was sought to be allotted in Bandra. Initially, in October, 2024, an area of 4.39 acres was handed over to the High Court. Thereafter, an area of 5.25 acres was to be handed over by December 31, however on account of certain difficulties, the same could not be done. This remaining land was handed over by the end of January 2025.

In April 2025, the Court was informed by Maharashtra government that out of 4.09 acres, which were to be handed over by March 31, 1.94 had been handed over and the remaining (2.15 acres) was proposed to be transferred by April 30. At the time, the total land transferred stood at 11.58 acres.

Case Details : IN RE: HERITAGE BUILDING OF THE BOMBAY HIGH COURT AND ALLOTMENT OF ADDITIONAL LANDS FOR THE HIGH COURT, SMW (C) No(s). 5/2024