The Maharashtra government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the remaining portion of land required for constructing the new Bombay High Court complex in Bandra will be handed over by March 2026. The project, long pending due to land and administrative hurdles, is now progressing towards full possession and planning stages.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran took note of the state’s submission during the hearing of a suo motu case titled “Heritage Building of the Bombay High Court and allotment of additional lands for the High Court.” Initially, the bench considered closing the matter, but after submissions from lawyers, it decided to keep it pending for further consideration in April 2026.
During the hearing, the state informed the court that negotiations for shifting the remaining existing structures were “actively underway” and expected to conclude soon. The state’s counsel further said that subsequent steps — including the appointment of an architect, finalisation of the project plan, and budgetary approval by a high-powered state committee — are in progress.
Earlier, on July 21, the Maharashtra government had apprised the apex court that it had taken possession of 15.33 acres out of the total 17.45 acres earmarked for the project. In October 2024, it said that the full 30.16-acre site would be handed over to the High Court in phases. The ground-breaking ceremony for the new building was conducted on September 23, 2024.
The Supreme Court had taken cognisance of the matter following an April 29, 2024, letter petition by Bombay Bar Association President Nitin Thakker and other bar leaders highlighting the urgent need for new premises for the 150-year-old court building.
The Bombay High Court, established on August 16, 1862, currently operates from its historic building near Flora Fountain (Hutatma Chowk), which it has occupied since November 1878. Given the structural age and severe space constraints of the heritage building, plans for a new complex at Bandra were initiated to ensure safety and accommodate growing judicial needs.
The proposed Bandra complex will feature modern infrastructure, including spacious courtrooms, judges’ chambers, registry offices, an arbitration and mediation centre, an auditorium, a library, and improved facilities for lawyers, litigants, and staff.
The Bombay High Court currently has a sanctioned strength of 94 judges and exercises jurisdiction over Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, with benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Goa.
