CHANDIGARH ADMINISTRATION versus REGISTRAR GENERAL, HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA, CHANDIGARH AND OTHERS

Citation: [2025] 5 S.C.R. 1179 · Decided: 28-05-2025 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: VIKRAM NATH · Disposal: Disposed off
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Judgment (excerpt)

[2025] 5 S.C.R. 1179 : 2025 INSC 786
Chandigarh Administration 
v. 
Registrar General, High Court of Punjab and Haryana, 
Chandigarh and Others
(Civil Appeal No(s). 7249-7250 of 2025)
28 May 2025
[Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta,* JJ.]
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.
Headnotes†
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]
* Author
1180
[2025] 5 S.C.R.
Supreme Court Reports
Case Law Cited
Rajeev Suri v. Delhi Development Authority [2021] 15 SCR 283 : 
2021 SCC OnLine SC 7 – referred to.
List of Acts
Constitution of India.
List of 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; Chandigarh Master Plan, 2031; Sustainable development;  
Green cover; Ecological balance; Modification in facade/structure 
of the building.
Case Arising From
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No(s). 7249-7250 
of 2025
From the Judgment and Order dated 29.11.2024 and 13.12.2024 of 
the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in CWP-(PIL) 
No. 9 of 2023
With
Civil Appeal No(s). 7251-7252 of 2025
Appearances for Parties
Amicus Curiae:
P.S. Patwalia, Sr. Adv., Ms. Natasha Dalmia
Advs. for the Appellant:
Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General, Ms. Kanu Agrawal, Bhuvan  
Kapoor, Krishna Kant Dubey, Varun Chugh, Shreekant Neelappa 
Terdal.
[2025] 5 S.C.R. 
1181
Chandigarh Administration v. Registrar General, High Court of Punjab 
and Haryana, Chandigarh and Others
Advs. for the Respondents:
Nidhesh Gupta, Aashish Chopra, Sr. Advs., Ashok Mathur,  
Ms. Japneet Kaur, Bikram Dwivedi, Manu Bhardwaj, Varun Aryan 
Sharma, Somiran Sharma.
Judgment / Order of the Supreme Court
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 Archaeological Survey 
of India for approval: It is also informed that in the 24th 
meeting of Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee 
(CHCC) held on 19.09.2024 in-principle proposal was 
granted for construction of the said Verandah in front of 
Court Room No.1 subject to contacting Foundation Le 
Corbusier Paris for sharing the required drawings/data 
related to this project.
1	
Hereina
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