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Rajasthan High Court initiates suo motu PIL over imminent central dome collapse in Jodhpur
A Division Bench of the has taken cognizance of a matter of grave public importance — the structural collapse risk of its own building at the Principal Seat in Jodhpur. Acting on expert opinion from the , the Court warned that the 21-metre-high Central Dome could fall "at any moment," exposing all stakeholders within the premises to catastrophic danger.
A Constitutional Court in Peril
The Bench of
Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati
and
Justice Praveer Bhatnagar
recorded its deep anguish over the condition of the dome, which expert analysis found to be
"structurally compromised to such an extent that its failure is no longer a remote contingency but an imminent and ever-present threat."
The Court described the consequences of a collapse as potentially involving
"loss of precious human lives and irreparable damage to the dignity and functioning of this constitutional Court."
The existing High Court building was inaugurated in December 2019 by the President of India, the Chief Justice of India and other dignitaries. Yet within mere years of occupation, a disturbing pattern of structural failures has emerged — eleven documented incidents of roof or ceiling collapses across courtrooms, chambers, corridors and the dome area itself, alongside pervasive water seepage, defective sanitary installations, inadequate fire-safety systems and progressive cracking in load-bearing elements.
A Trail of Expert Findings
The Court traced the timeline of expert investigations: the Expert Committee submitted preliminary and final reports in , identifying heavy corrosion in steel reinforcement, corrosion-induced cracking, and improper waterproofing. The committee recommended a comprehensive structural audit by a third party, which was conducted by , whose final report of confirmed reduced concrete pH, elevated chloride content in water samples, and concrete compressive strength readings ranging from M18.40 to M32.75 — in some cases below the M25 design grade.
The interim report from
IIT Bombay
, submitted on
, delivered the most alarming findings yet: approximately 40% of inspected areas are vulnerable to concrete spalling, carbonation has reached reinforcement cover depth, and the identified corrosion mechanisms are
"progressive in nature and require immediate engineering intervention."
A Fire That Exposed More Than Smoke Damage
The judgment also highlighted a fire incident on
in Court No. 2, which broke out just a day after RSRDC Ltd. certified the courtroom fit for use. Critically, the installed fire-safety system
"was not found to be operational during the incident,"
and inspections by
found numerous deficiencies, concluding the fire-safety system was neither installed nor maintained to prescribed standards. An FIR was registered on
, though no Action Taken Report has been received to date.
Directions and Accountability
The Court issued notices to the , its departments, the , , the Director General of Police and the Registrar General, requiring comprehensive affidavits by . These must disclose the present status of safety audits, the precise reasons for continued structural failures, the accountability of every agency involved in construction and maintenance, and a fully costed, time-bound action plan for permanent remediation.
Pending the affidavits, the Court directed immediate interim measures: around-the-clock structural health monitoring of the Central Dome, cordoning off of affected zones, a detailed safety and evacuation protocol within 48 hours with mock drills within 72 hours, and establishment of a dedicated Control Room under the Registrar General. The dome area has already been cordoned off.
"Non-Negotiable and Absolute"
The Court's key observations left no room for bureaucratic deflection:
"This Court is gravely concerned with a matter of public importance and institutional significance, namely the structural condition of the Building of the, Principal Seat, including the Central Dome (approx. at a height of 21 metres) built and existing therein, which, according to the expert opinion of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, is in a state of imminent collapse and may fall at any moment, thereby exposing the precious lives of all the stakeholders within the premises to grave and irreversible danger and damage."
"The safety of human lives within the precincts of this constitutional Court is non-negotiable and absolute. Any failure to respond with the required urgency, transparency, completeness and personal accountability shall invite appropriate and stringent orders."
The Court also warned that any affidavit found to be
"incomplete, evasive, vague, delayed or designed to downplay the gravity of the situation"
may invite personal appearance and adverse orders.
What Happens Next
The matter stands listed for , with the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, the Principal Secretaries of Finance and Public Works, the Managing Director of RSRDC, the Director General of Police, and nominees of IIT Bombay, and directed to remain personally present. The Court has also constituted a team of senior advocates to assist as in the proceedings.
The broader estimated cost of structural repair and retrofitting, as assessed by RSRDC, stands at approximately Rs. 57.65 crore across three phases of criticality, with repair works already commenced in phases by .
This case now stands as a striking reminder that even the highest institutions of the State are not immune to failures of construction quality, oversight and maintenance — and that the courts will hold authorities accountable, even when the building in question is their own.
