Hyderabad: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday said the upcoming Telangana high court could be among the best in the country and thanked the state for allotting a 100 acres and sanctioning around Rs 2,500 crore towards the project while laying the foundation for Zone II of the new HC complex at Rajendranagar.The event was attended by chief minister A Revanth Reddy, Supreme Court Justices PS Narasimha, Ujjal Bhuyan and SV Bhatti, and high court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh. While Zone I, already under construction, houses the main high court buildings, Zone II would feature residential quarters for the Chief Justice and judges, alongside essential institutional infrastructure.Justice Kant emphasised that “judicial independence is a practical reality rooted in physical infrastructure”. He described the project as a “root system” designed to sustain the judiciary for the next century, moving it from congested city premises to a self-contained campus.Tracing the project’s origins to a devastating fire in 2009, the CJI noted that it took nearly two decades of sustained effort and “rare institutional alignment” between the judiciary and the executive to bring the plan to fruition. He highlighted a nationwide trend where state govts were increasingly recognising judicial infrastructure as an “essential obligation” rather than an optional expense.Justice Kant expressed particular interest in the planned auditorium and central record room, terming them as close to his heart in the Zone II.“A judiciary that ceases to learn will stop evolving,” he stated, noting that these spaces would host judicial conferences and preserve legal precedents to strengthen future judgments.Concluding his address, he defined the project’s journey in three stages: intent, perseverance, and fulfilment.“A young lawyer starting his/her career decades from now may not know our names, but the quality of this campus will prove that we cared about the future of justice,” he added.In his address, chief minister A Revanth Reddy said that their goal was to complete the project by Dec 2027 and that it was his govt’s commitment.“Today is a red-letter day. We are taking a step to create a monument for the next century – a crucial pillar for public life,” the CM added.Describing the construction of the new court complex as a rare opportunity to a politician, he said: “One may build a temple, mosque, church or a gurudwara, but building the high court – a temple of justice – for people of all faiths is a rare and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”He noted that providing modern infrastructure was a top priority, with the project being among the first decisions taken by his govt in Dec 20Beyond the capital, the govt is developing infrastructure for 49 courts and residential quarters for staff across the state.The ceremony also featured addresses from the Supreme Court judges, with Justices Narasimha and Bhatti drawing applause for speaking in Telugu. Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh also addressed the gathering.
