Hyderabad, April 5 (NationPress) The Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, proclaimed on Sunday that the forthcoming Telangana High Court complex will emerge as the premier high court in India.

He emphasized that courtrooms, administrative offices, archival spaces, residential accommodations, and training facilities will be centralized within a fully integrated site.

This statement followed the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for Zone-II of the new High Court complex, which spans 100 acres in Rajendranagar.

After reviewing the conceptual designs and models, the CJI expressed his belief that this High Court will indeed be the finest in the nation.

Accompanied by several Supreme Court judges, Telangana High Court Chief Justice Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, he laid the cornerstone for Zone-II, which will cover 60 acres.

“The judiciary will function here on its own terms and its own grounds. This is the essence of institutional self-sufficiency, transitioning from theory to tangible infrastructure,” he remarked.

The two structures in Zone-II that particularly resonated with the CJI are the auditorium and the central record room.

The auditorium is set to host judicial conferences and training programs for the district judiciary, along with initiatives aimed at enhancing legal awareness among citizens. “A judiciary that stops learning will cease to progress. This is a conviction I hold strongly across the nation,” he stated.

He underscored the significance of the central record room, which is designed across three levels. “Institutional memory is not merely a luxury; it is the cornerstone of consistent judicial reasoning. Well-maintained and easily accessible precedents bolster every subsequent judgment. I am gratified to see the importance of this recognized in the design,” he commented.

“The commitment to sustainability is evident in the planning. A campus intended to benefit future generations of judges and litigants must honor the land it occupies,” the CJI added.

He expressed gratitude to the Telangana government for allocating 100 acres for the new complex and approving more than Rs 2,500 crore for its development.

Designed to endure for the next century, the new High Court campus is scheduled for completion within two years.

Satisfied with the progress of Zone-I, for which the foundation was laid in 2024, he remarked that Zone-II is equally crucial to the campus.

Characterizing Zone-II as the foundational element of the campus, he noted that with 57 buildings on 60 acres, it is structured to sustain the institution long after the courtroom has opened.

He stressed the importance of physical infrastructure, stating that without it, the principle of access to justice remains theoretical.

“We frequently discuss judicial independence in various contexts. However, independence also has practical implications that are sometimes overlooked. A High Court operating from dispersed locations and cramped facilities is one where daily operations rely on arrangements beyond its control,” he explained.

The CJI expressed confidence that this expansive 100-acre campus will redefine perceptions and significantly enhance the judiciary's operational independence with its state-of-the-art facilities.

He acknowledged that while the existing High Court building holds historical significance, it does not meet the current needs of the institution. “Developing infrastructure that accommodates our requirements for the next century is not just a goal; it is an obligation,” he affirmed.

Chief Justice of Telangana High Court, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, acknowledged that the Telangana government has allocated 100 acres for this ambitious project, which will be executed in two phases.

Zone-I includes the main court complex and office buildings, whereas Zone-II will feature residential bungalows and a central record room.

The Chief Justice reported that the state government has approved Rs 2,583 crores for the construction of the new High Court building.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed his pride in initiating the project for the new High Court building, predicting it will become an iconic structure.

He reminisced that one of the first decisions made by the current government after taking office in December 2023 was to allocate land for the new High Court construction.

According to the CM, Zone-II, which will include residential quarters, is expected to be completed by December 2027.

Supreme Court Judges Justice Alok Aradhe, Justice S.V. Bhatti, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, and Justice P.S. Narasimha also commented during the event.