Verandah Construction Begins at Punjab-Haryana High Court

Punjab / Haryana : A new verandah is being constructed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court premises at a cost of ₹14 lakh, with the project expected to be completed before the onset of the monsoon. The structure is being developed to provide shelter from rain for advocates and visitors who often face difficulty during heavy showers. According to court officials, the work began swiftly after receiving clearance, despite an earlier attempt by the court administration to seek a stay on the project from the Supreme Court, which was denied.

The verandah will be a steel structure with a temporary roofing design, offering weather protection along key walkways connecting the courtrooms and administrative buildings. For years, bar associations and regular court-goers had been raising concerns about the lack of adequate rain protection, especially during the monsoon months when proceedings often get disrupted due to water-logging and movement issues within the campus.

The decision to carry out the construction now comes amid heightened focus on improving infrastructure for both litigants and lawyers. Officials stated that all safety and heritage considerations are being kept in mind, since the Punjab-Haryana High Court is also a heritage building listed under the UNESCO tentative list. The verandah has been designed to be both functional and reversible, meaning it can be dismantled without causing structural changes to the historic court campus.

Earlier, the administration had filed a plea in the Supreme Court, requesting a stay on the construction due to heritage concerns and ongoing planning discussions. However, the apex court refused to halt the project, observing that immediate weather protection for court users was a reasonable demand. With this go-ahead, construction crews are now working at an accelerated pace to ensure the project is completed before the arrival of heavy rains.

Legal professionals have welcomed the move, calling it a much-needed facility that shows sensitivity to ground-level issues faced by court visitors. However, some heritage activists have urged caution, suggesting that long-term planning should align with conservation guidelines to avoid altering the original aesthetics of the complex.

The High Court administration has assured that the verandah will be a temporary structure built to serve a pressing seasonal need, and its installation will not hinder future development or preservation plans.