Cracks in court corridor?

By K. Venkateshwarlu

HYDERABAD, OCT. 18. It is not mere violation of the building bylaws. It is now clear that the multi-storeyed office complex on the A.P. High Court precincts, a protected heritage building premises, has no permission from the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) and the Fire Services Department as well.

The violation was brought to light by none other than Mr. Justice B.S.A. Swamy of the High Court. Addressing judicial officers at a function to felicitate Mr. Justice B. Subhashan Reddy on his elevation as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court here recently, he said it was Mr. Justice Reddy who had planned the eight-storeyed building for present and future requirements. "But I came to know in the course of a judgment that it is in violation of building bylaws," he added with a smile.

Enquiries with officials reveal that the authorities had not obtained permission from the HCC as is mandatory under Regulation 13 of the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority Zoning Regulations for any listed heritage building. Under this regulation, no development or redevelopment or engineering operation or additions, alterations, repairs, renovation, including painting of buildings, replacement of special features or demolition of the whole or any part thereof or plastering of the said heritage building or precincts is allowed except with prior permission of the Vice-Chairman of HUDA.

The Vice-Chairman would act on the advice of or in consultation with the HCC and after inviting public objections and suggestions in three local dailies. Rules aside, visitors who had gone on a `heritage walk' were shocked to find a `concrete monster' dominating the skyline nearly overshadowing the majestic court building on one side and the equally attractive Government City College building on the other. Both are listed grade-II heritage buildings for conservation.

"It sticks out like an eyesore, totally out of sync with the old stone building" was the visitors' reaction albeit in a whispering tone. Though tourists, conservationists and citizens felt disturbed, none of them has gathered courage to point it out openly so far, the refrain being "after all it's a High Court matter."

Now that a High Court judge himself has revealed that the building has in fact violated the bylaws, more details are coming through, raising questions. Conservationists interested in protecting the rich heritage and architectural character of the Old City wonder how such a building could come up, damaging the skyline.

When contacted, the Fire Services Department, too, said the building in question had no formal clearance rather a no objection certificate/occupancy certificate. Under the A.P. Fire Services Act, multi-storeyed buildings are to comply with a set of fire safety norms like provision of sufficient water, leaving a setback of seven metres for a 15-metre high building and an additional one-metre setback thereon for every addition of three metres, sufficient space for easy movement of fire tenders and external staircase for escape from fire.

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Section  : Southern States
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