'Demolishing SC Building Akin To Destroying History': Plea Filed Against Centre's Rs 800 Cr Reconstruction Plan

Petition calls the demolition of Supreme Court building akin to destroying a piece of history and points that Centre has not yet released the new designs for the reconstruction plan.

PM Modi while announcing the sanction of Rs 800 cr for Supreme Court building had said that he hopes that no petition is filed to stop the construction of new building as it was done in Central Vista's case.

Source : Getty

A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the demolition of the top court's present building as part of Centre's Rs 800 crore reconstruction plan. The petition calls the demolition of Supreme Court building akin to destroying a piece of history and points that Centre has not yet released the new designs for the reconstruction plan.

"When the building is redeemable, we are demolishing a piece of history. A lot of people believe that demolishing a property of historic significance is just plain wrong and akin to destroying a piece of history. After all, once it's gone, it's gone forever," the plea stated.

The petitioner who claims to be a public spiritual person has moved a wirt petion under Article 32 of the Constitution of India seeking direction to the Centre to not demolish the Supreme Court building and instead accommodate the Tribunals, Courts and government offices which are running on rental in private properties and make Supreme Court new building in another place.

The plea filed in the top court by one KK Ramesh seeks directions to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Law And Justice, Secretary General, Supreme Court of India to not demolish the current building and construct new Supreme Court building somewhere else.

On January 28, delivering the inaugural address at the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Supreme Court, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre Government has approved a sum of Rs.800 crores for expansion of the court's complex.

PM Modi also said that he hopes that no petition is filed to stop the construction of new building as it was done in Central Vista's case.

A plea has now been filed in the top court stating that since the Centre has agreed that the Supreme Court building has no damage or threat to fall, the apex court's building needs to be used for another purpose instead of demolishing.

The plea further contends that constructing 27 courtrooms with the 4 registrar courtrooms will not help after 10 years given the fast growing economy and civilization, and the number of Supreme Court cases are also increasing rapidly. At present, the Supreme Court has 17 Courtrooms and 2 Registrar Courtrooms. He pointed out that Centre is going to demolish the building which is of great historic significance and spend Rs 800 crore to just add 10 more rooms, which he said was not acceptable.

He further points out that Centre has not released the new design of the Supreme Court building and has also not consulted the common people, SCBA, SCAORA about the new building design.

The petitioner alleges that Centre's move to demolish the Supreme Court building violated the principle of natural justice and fundamental rights of people of India under Article 14, 19 and 21. The petitioner cites CJI Chandrachud's address on the 77th Independence Day celebrations at the Supreme Court lawns, where he announced the construction of a new building for the Supreme Court. 

The petition states that the new building Construction projects are very complex and poses various internal and external risks. the plea further cited pollution risks from demolition and re-construction activity.

He further cites massive shortage of Tribunals, Courts and govt office accommodation in Delhi and states that several offices of the central government are scattered in different places and many are in rented buildings that require huge amount.