Supreme Court Reports
[2025] 5 S.C.R. 1179 : 2025 INSC 786
Issue for consideration
Whether the High Court of Punjab and Haryana was justified in directing the appellant-Administration for construction of verandah in front of Court Room No.1 and laying of green paver blocks in the kutcha parking, the open area used for parking.
Headnote
UNESCO World Heritage Site – Construction of verandah, not violation of UNESCO guidelines – High Court of Punjab and Haryana issued mandamus to the appellant to construct verandah in front of Court Room No.1 – Non-compliance, contempt issued – Plea of the appellant that the Chandigarh Capitol Complex which includes the High Court building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it may loose such status, if the verandah is constructed without procuring the requisite permissions/approval from the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO:
Held: High Court justified in directing construction of the verandah in front of Court Room No.1 in alignment with the design of the pre-existing verandahs in front of Court Room Nos.2 to 9 and the same does not violate the UNESCO guidelines – Neither such verandah is a major restoration nor a new construction within the main structure of the High Court building – If required, the administration may seek ex-post facto approval for this minimal protective measure which is considered necessary – Further, the orders for placing green paver blocks and plantation of trees in the open area being used for parking are also upheld – Impugned orders not interfered – Constitution of India – Arts.226, 136. [Paras 39, 34, 45]
Keywords:
UNESCO World Heritage Site · Chandigarh Capitol Complex · High Court building · High Court of Punjab and Haryana · Writ of mandamus · Construction of verandah in front of Court Room · Laying of green paver blocks · Open parking area · World Heritage Committee, UNESCO · Green paver blocks · World Heritage Status of the UNESCO guidelines · Operational Guidelines · World Heritage Convention · Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property · Foundation Le Corbusier, Paris · Parking space for lawyers, litigants
As published in the Supreme Court Reports, Supreme Court of India.
Headnotes prepared by: Divya Pandey. Text from the Indian Supreme Court Judgments open data set (Dattam Labs),
CC BY 4.0.
Full Judgment Text
Judgment
Mehta, J.
1. Heard.
2. Leave granted.
3. Chandigarh Administration1 is in appeal against the orders dated 29th November, 2024; 13th December, 2024; 7th February, 2025; and 21st February, 2025 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh2 in a public interest litigation3 whereby the High Court directed as below:“Order dated 29th November, 2024 Construction of Verandah in front of Court Room No.1 Submissions
Learned Senior Standing Counsel for UT Administration informs that proposed map of the Verandah covering outside of Court Room No.1 has been sent to Archaeologi
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