The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday took suo motu cognisance of the alleged dilapidated condition of the Le Corbusier Centre in Chandigarh’s Sector 19 and asked the Union Territory administration to file a compliance report on steps being taken for its renovation and repair.
Taking up the matter on the basis of a news-report published on May 7, the Bench of Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry referred to its alleged dilapidated condition of the building — as referred to in the newspaper — before questioning the administration on the upkeep of the heritage structure situated in Sector 19.
Appearing for the UT administration, counsel informed the court that the Director Tourism was “taking stock of the situation today itself” and assured the Bench that a proper status report would be placed before the court. It was also submitted that part of the damage had been caused by a recent spell of strong winds lasting “two and three hours”.
Recording the submission, the Bench observed: “This Court has taken suo motu cognisance on the strength of a newspaper item published in regard to the dilapidated condition of the Le Corbusier Centre, Sector 19, Chandigarh.”
The court further noted that the UT administration had stated that efforts were being taken to renovate and repair the centre. The matter has now been adjourned for the filing of a compliance report by the Chandigarh administration on the proposed restoration and preservation measures.
The Le Corbusier Centre is associated with the legacy of French architect Le Corbusier, whose architectural vision shaped Chandigarh’s urban design and several iconic government buildings in the city. It is a “specialised museum” and former workplace where Corbusier and his team, including Pierre Jeanneret, designed the city in the 1950s.
The news-report had stated that the centre — a pilgrimage site for architects, heritage experts and international tourists, now presented a picture of decay. The roof tiles were missing or broken at several places in the main hall, where Corbusier and his team conceptualised and designed Chandigarh nearly seven decades ago.
