Maha Govt grants advance possession for New Bombay High Court Complex in Bandra East

In a significant development, the Maharashtra government has informed the Bombay High Court that it has decided to grant advance possession of a 30-acre land parcel at the government colony in Bandra East for the construction of the new High Court complex. This announcement came in response to a petition filed by lawyer Ahmed Abdi, highlighting non-compliance by the government with a 2018 High Court order on land allotment.

Advocate General Birendra Saraf presented a communication from Dinesh Kurhade, Tehsildar (Revenue) of Mumbai Suburban, to the Registrar (Original Side) of the High Court, notifying the handing over of advance possession of the 30-acre land in Bandra East. The communication requested the Registrar to depute a representative to take possession of the land.

The division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Sandeep Marne acknowledged the submission and accepted the advance possession letter. However, the court decided to continue monitoring the matter due to pending changes in land records and reservations.

The proposed new High Court complex will be spread over 21 acres, accommodating courtrooms, judges' chambers, and other essential facilities. Additionally, 8.9 acres of land will be allocated for central tribunals and lawyers' chambers. The government plans to generate revenue by developing a portion of the land for commercial purposes.

The journey toward the construction of the new High Court building began in 2012 when Ahmed Abdi filed a plea demanding a new facility on a priority basis. In January 2019, Justice Abhay S Oka directed the state government to take a decision regarding the land allotment. However, the government allegedly failed to act upon the order deliberately.

After several legal proceedings and directions from the High Court, the government agreed to grant 30.16 acres for the new complex in the Bandra East government residential colony. The Public Works Department (PWD) consented to surrender the land for this purpose.

The Maharashtra government has now taken a significant step forward by submitting the advance possession letter to the High Court. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 9, 2023, and will continue monitoring the progress closely.

Once the land is officially transferred, and necessary reservations and records are updated, the construction of the new Bombay High Court complex in Bandra East can commence. This development will address the long-standing issue of insufficient space in the existing High Court building and ensure improved access to justice for litigants in Maharashtra.