Heritage Impact Assessment report ‘very comprehensive’, may take more time: Chandigarh Administration tells HC
Any structural addition or expansion within Chandigarh's Capitol Complex requires scrutiny under the World Heritage framework
The UT Administration on Monday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the comprehensive Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) report—a key prerequisite in view of the site’s UNESCO-protected heritage character—was still under preparation and might take “a little more time”.
As the matter came up for the resumed hearing, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry sought clarity on the status of the HIA. Responding to the query, counsel for the UT Administration stated: “It will come. That takes a couple of months actually. The work is going on. It would take a little more time. It is very comprehensive… The consultant has been entrusted to get it done, or do it, at his own level. He is doing it.”
The counsel also informed the Bench that the consultant’s bill had reached the secretary-level and was likely to be cleared within a week. Elaborating, he said the bill, received on February 16, had already been processed up to the secretary-level.
“In a few days, about a week, that bill will be cleared,” the counsel added.
Noting the submissions, the Bench deferred further proceedings on the long-pending infrastructure expansion project to February 27, awaiting the submission of the crucial report.
The High Court building, designed by Le Corbusier, forms part of the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Any structural addition or expansion within the complex requires careful scrutiny under the World Heritage framework. In keeping with this requirement, the concept note for the proposed expansion has already been submitted to the Fondation Le Corbusier.
The issue assumes urgency amid acute infrastructure constraints flagged repeatedly by the court. Despite a sanctioned strength of 85 judges, only 69 courtrooms are functional. The Bench had earlier recorded that the shortfall “dissuades the High Court from working at full strength,” urging the Administration “to take a pragmatic view and allow the High Court to expand in terms of infrastructure by giving approval to the holistic plan, be it restrictively.”
In a detailed order passed on December 5, 2025, the Bench had described the shortage of space as “extreme”, noting that although the detailed project report was approved in principle in July 2020, the proposal remained stalled over heritage-related concerns. The court had also taken note of Registry staff functioning in cramped and poorly ventilated rooms, with files and records reportedly lying on the floor.
