Chandigarh’s High Court building maintenance to follow Le Corbusier’s standards

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, an architectural marvel designed by renowned architect Le Corbusier, is now under scrutiny for its maintenance, and the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee has been instructed to oversee it according to Le Corbusier’s standards. The court expressed concerns about the current state of maintenance, particularly in areas like the restaurant, which is part of Le Corbusier’s original plan but remains undeveloped. Neglected features like ponds and stones also drew attention.
The high court has directed the heritage committee to initiate monitoring of the high court building’s maintenance to ensure it adheres to Le Corbusier’s vision. Additionally, the court has ordered the UT administration to explore the possibility of relocating the administrative branches of the high court to any available vacant building temporarily.
The court also seeks information from the UT counsel regarding their previous engagement with the principal of the College of Architecture, Chandigarh, for heritage impact assessments and requests a report on the same.
This directive stems from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vinod Dhatterwal, the secretary of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Employees Association and others. The petitioner emphasized the strain on the existing high court premises due to a large number of lawyers, court employees, advocates’ clerks, litigants, and various visitors daily.