Heritage building of Coimbatore’s combined court complex develops damage

Courts functioning in the colonial era heritage building of the combined court complex in Coimbatore are expected to be shifted soon in the wake of certain structural damage.Justice P. Velmurugan, Judge of the Madras High Court and Portfolio Judge of Coimbatore district, who recently visited the court complex, has issued directions to shift all the courts functioning in the heritage building in the combined court complex. A portion of the lime plaster fell off the ceiling of the ground floor room located at the entrance of the record room in the heritage building on September 19, 2026.As per a communication from the Principal District Judge to the Coimbatore Bar Association (CBA), the building’s condition deteriorated significantly due to rain, making it unsafe for occupancy.As approved by the Portfolio Judge, the District Court, with the assistance of the Revenue Department and the Public Works Department (PWD), identified the first floor of a commercial complex belonging to the Coimbatore Corporation at Tatabad as an appropriate alternative space.As per the arrangement, all the District Munsif Courts, from Principal District Munsif Court to Fifth Additional Munsif Court in Coimbatore, will be shifted to the Corporation shopping complex near the power house at Tatabad in the city, said the communique.CBA sources said the heritage building houses the Mahila Court, two subordinate courts and three munsif courts, including the Principal District Munsif Court, on the first floor. The ground floor houses Motor Accidents Claims Original Petition Court, record room, office of the Special Public Prosecutor of the Mahila Court and court branch of the Indian Overseas Bank among others. Two munsif courts are functioning in another building.They said the deterioration of the building had been reported to the Madras High Court and the Portfolio Judge held discussions with PWD officials during his inspection.“The Judge had mentioned that even if the new court building near the Collectorate becomes available by the end of December or in January next year, the current building must not be used until then. He instructed officials to immediately find an alternative location and relocate the court”, said sources.Meanwhile, CBA will hold an emergency general body meeting on Friday (October 30) to discuss concerns of lawyers regarding the relocation of courts from the heritage building. Published - October 29, 2026 11:50 pm IST