Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has officially closed a public interest litigation regarding the future of the Circuit House in Laban, widely recognized as Bidhan Bhavan. The legal challenge began in late 2025 following concerns that the historic building was slated for demolition. The property holds historical significance, having been constructed by former West Bengal Chief Minister Bidhan Chandra Roy in the 1920s and famously hosting visitors such as Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas Chandra Bose.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh reviewed the matter after a letter raised alarms about the building's safety and historical legacy. While the court initially tasked the Meghalaya Heritage Authority with evaluating the site, the authority concluded the structure did not meet the specific criteria required for formal heritage status under the 2013 regulations. During the proceedings, the bench acknowledged the building's dilapidated state made preservation as a functional heritage site impractical.
To ensure the site's history is remembered, the state government proposed a compromise that satisfied the court. The Public Works Department confirmed plans to install a bust of Dr. Roy alongside a commemorative plaque within a landscaped garden at the premises. The court took these plans on record as Exhibit X, noting that "nothing survives for further consideration" in the case. The bench concluded the proceedings on June 17, 2026, while offering appreciation for the role of amicus curiae S. Chakrawarty in reaching a resolution.
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