Kerala Cabinet Clears ₹1,000-Crore Judicial City Project in Kalamassery
The Kerala government has given its approval for a new Judicial City at Kalamassery, which will also house the new Kerala High Court building.
The State Cabinet has decided to acquire 27 acres of land belonging to HMT in Kalamassery, Ernakulam, for the project. The cost is expected to cross ₹1,000 crore.
Law Minister P Rajeev announced the decision through a Facebook post. The Public Works Department (PWD) has already prepared a basic plan, while the Home Department has been asked to start the implementation process.
According to the plan, the Judicial City will include three multi-storey towers spread across 12 lakh sq. ft. with facilities such as:
- 61 court halls
- Registrar’s office
- Auditorium
- Committee rooms
- Administrative and library blocks
- Arbitration centre, recruitment cell, and information centre
- Office of the Advocate General and advocate chambers
- Parking areas and rainwater harvesting systems
The project traces back to the 2023 annual meeting between the Chief Minister and Chief Justice, where details were finalised. Later, a delegation led by the then Chief Justice AJ Desai and other judges visited the Kalamassery site and found it suitable.
Kalamassery, which is also Minister Rajeev’s constituency, was selected as it is well connected by National Highways, Seaport-Airport Road, and the Kochi Metro.
The move comes after repeated complaints about the present High Court building in Kochi city, which faces waterlogging, shortage of parking, and proximity to the ecologically sensitive Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary.
However, the Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA) has strongly opposed the relocation of the High Court from Kochi to Kalamassery.
