Patna High Court is gearing up for centenary year celebrations that would kick off after President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates it on April 18.
The building construction department is working on a war footing to repair the court's existing building in time for the big day.
The premises is undergoing a complete overhaul, be it a fresh coat of paint or repair of lampposts. Sources said Chief Justice L. Narasimha Reddy is personally monitoring preparations for the inaugural event on a daily basis.
Eminent artists like Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia and Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma are expected to perform during cultural programmes at the inaugural event. The President of India is expected to release a postage stamp during the event.
"President Pranab Mukherjee and Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu are set to grace the inaugural event.
Other dignitaries who are expected at the event include Union law minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and chief minister Nitish Kumar.
"I don't think Bihar's judicial system has ever seen such a large-scale event," Patna High Court senior advocate and member, Bihar chapter of Indian Association of Lawyers, Y.C. Verma said.
Viceroy and Governor-General of India Sir Charles Hardinge had laid the foundation stone of the existing building of the Patna High Court on December 1, 1913. Once the structure came up, Viceroy Hardinge formally inaugurated the building on February 3, 1916.
Sir Justice Edward Maynard des Champs Chamier was the first chief justice of Patna High Court.
"Patna High Court is one of the most renowned high courts in the country. India's first President, Rajendra Prasad, had practised as a layer here. Having got the opportunity to work at a number of high courts across the country, I believe Patna High Court is at the top, so far as judges' merit is concerned," Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said.
In the wake of the commencement of centenary year celebrations, work on construction of a new extension building of the high court has been expedited. Plans for the high court's extension were conceptualised in 2010, following acute shortage of courtrooms in the existing building.
The under-construction extension building, named "Centenary Building" is being developed at an estimated outlay of Rs 116 crore. Chief minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone of the centenary building on January 4 last year. The building is a B+G+2 structure being developed over 1.5 acres. It would accommodate 46 new courtrooms and 58 judges' chambers among other amenities, including conference room, judges lounge, library and record hall.
