HC Seeks Urgent ASI Nod for Rs19 Crore Revival of Historic Court Building The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to expedite its decision on a Rs19 crore proposal for the conservation and restoration of the historic Old High Court Building in Civil Lines. The court, presided over by a division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode, emphasized the need for an urgent response, setting a deadline of July 6 for further proceedings. The directive came during a hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the deteriorating condition of the 19th-century heritage structure, which is considered one of Nagpur’s most iconic judicial landmarks. Ashutosh Dharmadhikari was appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter. The revised conservation plan, jointly prepared by the ASI and the Public Works Department (PWD), was submitted after a detailed review meeting mandated by earlier court orders. ASI counsel Mugdha Chandurkar informed the bench that the proposal would now be forwarded to the ASI director general in New Delhi for final approval. The court ordered the ASI chief to provide a decision within seven days, underscoring the urgency of preserving the heritage site. Initially, the PWD had proposed a restoration plan costing nearly Rs30 crore. However, the ASI informed the court that the building, classified as a protected heritage monument, required adherence to strict conservation norms and archaeological preservation guidelines. This necessitated a revised estimate, leading to the current Rs19 crore proposal.#bombay_high_court #nagpur_bench #public_works_department #archaeological_survey_of_india #old_high_court_building
