3 weeks ago
Rajasthan High Court takes suo motu cognisance of dome safety
Judges at a big courthouse were worried that their building might not be safe.
The courthouse is the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur.
It has a very tall round roof, called a dome, that is about 21 metres high.
Parts of the ceilings, plaster and false ceilings have already fallen down in different rooms several times.
Experts from two famous engineering institutes, IIT Jodhpur and IIT Bombay, checked the building.
They found rusty metal bars inside the concrete, cracks and water getting in where it should not.
If water keeps getting in, the rust can spread and make parts of the building fall suddenly.
The judges turned the problem into an important case called a Public Interest Litigation to make sure everyone stays safe.
The area under the dome has been blocked off so nobody walks there while repairs are planned.
Fixing everything could cost about 57.65 crore rupees.
The Rajasthan High Court took suo motu cognisance of structural safety concerns over its principal seat building in Jodhpur, especially the roughly 21-metre-high central dome.
A division bench of Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Praveer Bhatnagar ordered the matter registered as a Public Interest Litigation after experts flagged a risk of sudden concrete collapse.
Ceilings, plaster and false ceilings have collapsed in multiple areas since 2023, including Courtrooms 2, 9, 14, 16 and 19 and the corridor near the Registrar General's office.
Audits by IIT Jodhpur and IIT Bombay found rusting, rebar corrosion, carbonation and chloride contamination, with about 40 per cent of inspected areas vulnerable to concrete spalling.
RSRDC estimated repair and retrofitting costs at approximately Rs 57.65 crore, and the area beneath the dome has been barricaded while movement in affected areas is restricted.
- Who
- The Rajasthan High Court, through a division bench of Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Praveer Bhatnagar, acting on expert findings from IIT Jodhpur and IIT Bombay and repair estimates from RSRDC.
- What
- The Court took suo motu cognisance of structural safety concerns over its principal seat building and registered the matter as a Public Interest Litigation, directing precautionary measures and a retrofitting plan.
- Where
- The Rajasthan High Court's principal seat building in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
- When
- The action follows incidents reported since 2023, including a false ceiling collapse in Courtroom 14 on February 20, 2023, a falling dome portion on April 29, 2023, and a November 2025 collapse; the building was completed by end of 2013 and handed over in December 2019.
- Why
- Expert audits identified corrosion, carbonation, chloride contamination and a risk of sudden concrete collapse, threatening the safety of judges, advocates, court staff and the public.
Key facts
- Building
- Rajasthan High Court principal seat, Jodhpur
- Central dome height
- Approximately 21 metres
- Construction completed
- End of 2013
- Building handed over
- December 2019
- Estimated repair cost
- Approximately Rs 57.65 crore (RSRDC estimate)
- Areas vulnerable to concrete spalling
- About 40 per cent of inspected areas (IIT Bombay audit)
- Structural audits
- IIT Jodhpur (2023) and IIT Bombay (recent)
- Precautionary measures
- Barricading beneath the dome; movement restricted in affected areas
Sources
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