Overview

• The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the Chandigarh administration’s appeal and upheld the High Court’s directive to construct a verandah in front of Court Room No. 1 as compliant with UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines.
• It also backed the laying of green paver blocks in the open parking area to tackle a daily influx of 3,000–4,000 vehicles in a space designed for just 600 cars, and recommended tree plantations to enhance the green cover.
• The Supreme Court paused contempt proceedings against UT Chief Engineer C. B. Ojha and set a 12-week deadline for the administration to implement both infrastructure measures without further penalties.
• The ruling drew on the 2016 UNESCO World Heritage designation of Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh Capitol Complex and referenced the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031 to underline the legal balance between heritage preservation and essential development.
• Originally proposed in 1956 but shelved for lack of consent, the verandah plan was revived through a 2023 public interest litigation by High Court employees and reinforced by successive orders in late 2024 and early 2025.