CJI D Y Chandrachud for inclusive public places, lays stone for new Telangana High Court building

HYDERABAD: Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud, while laying the foundation stone of the new Telangana High Court on Wednesday, said that he pays tributes to three legendary judges of Telangana — Justice Subba Reddy, Justice Chinappa Reddy and Justice Jeevan Reddy — every week throughout his judicial journey.

In his address at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Telangana High Court, the Chief Justice of India, D. Y. Chandrachud, paid tribute to the services rendered by these legendary judges to the judiciary and to the Telangana High Court in particular.

He said, "I would like to mention three names to whom I pay homage almost every week in my life as a judge. Justice Subba Rao, whose constitutional vision guides us and whose words from the early years of the Constitution are still relevant today. Let us not forget the sheer brilliance and social vision of Justice Chinappa Reddy, who served at a difficult time for judges during the Emergency. These are the judges who have really breathed life into the tradition of this court. And one of my personal favourites, of course, is Justice Jeevan Reddy, whose sheer intellectual brilliance as a judge has, in my opinion, been surpassed in almost every area of law.

"The building of a High Court is a public place for the contestation of ideas, values, rights, duties, and obligations, and above all, it represents the supremacy of the law, " said CJI Chandrachud.

The Chief Justice of India hailed the Telangana High Court, acknowledging not only its impressive architecture but also its rich and enduring tradition. He said, "The Telangana High Court is a young institution with a venerable history dating back to 1919, when it was established by the Seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. Its distinguished legacy is exemplified not only by its iconic Saracenic arches, emblematic of Indian architecture, but also by the individuals who have imbued the court's tradition with profound meaning and substance over the years."

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud stressed the importance of building new infrastructure in public spaces, not just for lawyers and judges, but also to make the legal process more accessible to everyone, especially those who have been left out before. He believes creation of infrastructure plays a significant role to reduce inequalities and brings marginalised groups into the mainstream.

The Chief Justice highlighted the importance of inclusive public spaces, pointing out existing inequalities such as the shortage of facilities for women and the disabled. He said that the lack of disabled-friendly parking spots suggests that courts are not designed for people with disabilities, or they must overcome extra obstacles to access justice.

Telangana government has allocated 100 acres of land from the State Agriculture and Horticulture Universities in Premavathipet and Budwel villages of Rajendranagar mandal in Rangareddy district for a project with an estimated construction cost of Rs 500 crores.