"We first made a presentation of our design along with several other architects. Then we were called…before a committee of judges. Later, we were informed by the Public Works Department (PWD) that our design was selected. A team of over 25 architects worked on the design,” stated senior architect Hafeez Contractor whose firm’s design was selected for the new Bombay High Court (BHC) complex at Government Colony in Bandra (East). Submitted via the BHC’s steering committee through a competition, the plan is being finalized according to the PWD, reported The Times of India (ToI) on September 11, 2025.
Design for new Bombay High Court complex
by Hafeez Contractor (inset)
"Despite its monumental scale, the vision for the new BHC balances timeless grandeur with adaptability, anticipating future judicial needs while serving the present,” as per the project description, shared with Parsiana.
"The High Court is one of the most prominent institutions in the city, and we wanted the new complex to be distinctly different from the other buildings in its surroundings,” the architect told the ToI. The 30-acre complex is visualized as a "temple of justice… in a lush mix of classical and neoclassical styles… across 26 acres, with residences for judges on the remaining four acres. Once finished, the new High Court will boast a built-up area of 60 lakh sq ft… The massive complex will comprise 75 courtrooms with dedicated lifts for judges, one lift serving two. Entrance for judges shall be at the front, for the public at the rear and for lawyers, whichever they find convenient.”
Estimated to cost a tidy Rs 3,750 crores (USD 422 million), the façade will be a semicircular arc with a green space in the foreground with a 50 m tall Ashoka Pillar at the center. The courts will be located in a four-storey section, while the massive dome behind this will be the height of a 20-storey building. "Every courtroom will have its own waiting room,” Contractor said. "We have designed it such that there is plenty of light and ventilation. The ceiling is interspersed with skylights so natural light seeps in. There is central air-conditioning too, with all modern amenities.” White cement-concrete has been chosen to minimize maintenance, as this will not require frequent painting. Sherene Vak