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Court revamp: Punjab and Haryana HC asks administrative panel to expedite hiring of consultant

UT, Centre cite urgency in holistic redevelopment plan, say the project faces a year-end deadline and cannot afford procedural delays.

4 min readChandigarhDec 5, 2025 03:51 PM IST

Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, holistic redevelopment, court complex, UT administration,

Senior standing counsel Amit Jhanji, representing the UT administration, told the bench that several steps listed in the UT’s affidavit had not yet been completed. (File photo)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday asked its administrative committee to work out a permissible and expedited methodology for shortlisting a consultant for the proposed holistic redevelopment of the court complex, after the UT administration, the Bar, and the Union of India told the bench that the project faces a year-end deadline and cannot afford procedural delays.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing the matter concerning the new 11 lakh square foot redevelopment proposal, which requires approvals from multiple agencies, including the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee and a heritage impact assessment.

Senior counsel Rupinder Khosla, representing the High Court Bar Association, pressed for immediate steps to avoid missing the December 31 cut-off. He submitted that the administrative committee, which includes the chief architect and chief engineer of the UT, should be permitted to devise a via media to approve a consultant so that the project reaches “stage eleven” of the procedural chart placed before the court. He argued that failure to meet the deadline could push the plan back by two years.

Khosla said the scope of work had already been discussed within the committee and that the maximum area available for redevelopment had been identified. He urged the court to allow the committee to take a final call on the consultant, with the remaining processes to follow the regular bidding route.

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Senior standing counsel Amit Jhanji, representing the UT administration, told the bench that several steps listed in the UT’s affidavit had not yet been completed, including the invitation of expressions of interest and the technical evaluation of applicants. He said the court’s earlier order of November 21 required the UT to publish an expression of interest within one week for appointing a consultant with experience in court infrastructure and heritage sites, and that these directions would have to be harmonised with any new methodology the administrative committee was asked to follow.

Jhanji added that the plan required three major tasks at the outset. These were the appointment of the consultant, completion of the heritage impact assessment, and securing clearance from the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee, with other steps being ancillary. He said the heritage impact assessment could begin immediately and should proceed in parallel.

‘2014 plan redundant’

Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, appearing for the Union of India, referred to the prevailing 2025 procurement rules and cautioned that single-source selection or direct negotiations for consultant appointment could only be used in exceptional circumstances. He said any shortcut would require full justification and competent authority approval and warned that neither the UT nor the Centre could violate the statutory procedure unless the court issued specific directions.

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Jain said the earlier holistic plan, cleared in 2014, had now become redundant because it covered only 3 lakh square feet, while the present proposal spans 11 lakh square feet. He submitted that the court could formally shelve the earlier project on the judicial side and authorise the administrative committee to prioritise shortlisted consultants and take a decision within a week, which would protect the process from later challenges.

Chief Justice Nagu indicated that the administrative committee would be asked to evolve the procedure, attempt shortlisting within the constraints of law, and return to the court for final approval. The bench observed that this was likely the quickest route, since all stakeholders were represented on the committee.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More