Historic old court complex at Lal Chowk unused for years

Idrees Bukhtiyar
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20 Dec 2025

Srinagar, Dec 19: The old court complex at Lal Chowk, one of Srinagar’s most significant heritage buildings is lying abandoned and unused for years, prompting renewed demands from locals and traders to restore the structure and put it to public use by shifting government offices into it. Steeped in history, the old court complex began functioning in 1912 under the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh, when the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir operated from the premises. The court continued to function there until 1987, before shifting to a new building. Over the decades, the complex witnessed appearances by some of the most eminent legal minds of the subcontinent, including Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and V K Krishna Menon, making it an important symbol of the region’s judicial and political history. After the High Court shifted out, the lower courts continued to function from the complex until the devastating floods of 2014, following which court operations were moved to Mominabad in Batamaloo. Since then, the historic building at Lal Chowk has remained largely unused, gradually slipping into neglect despite its architectural and heritage value. Locals and traders in the city centre said the continued disuse of the complex is not only a loss to Srinagar’s heritage but also a missed opportunity to revive Lal Chowk’s economic and administrative relevance. “We demand that the building be restored and repurposed to house government offices, which they believe would increase footfall, generate employment and help preserve the historical structure,” a delegation of locals in Lal Chowk said. In 2024, the Traders Association Central Lal Chowk formally approached the office of the then Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, requesting that the vacant old court complex be utilized to accommodate several government offices. The association argued that such a move would boost business activity in the area, increase public footfall in the city centre and help safeguard the historical significance of the building. Following the request, the Deputy Commissioner wrote to the Principal Secretary to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, seeking guidance on the future use of the complex. “Keeping in view of above explained facts, it is requested to kindly place the instant matter before the Chief Justice of J&K and Ladakh for kind perusal and convey the view of Chair to this office so that matter will be taken up with Administrative Department for further course of action,” the letter stated. The communication also proposed shifting the offices of Sub-Registrars of District Srinagar to the old court complex. According to the letter, this would allow all Sub-Registrar offices in the district to function under one roof, improve service delivery and enable the government to designate Sub-Registrars with independent charges for smoother functioning. The proposal further noted that relocating these offices would provide relief to the general public visiting registration offices on a daily basis, while also helping revive commercial activity around Lal Chowk. It said the move would benefit traders and assist in rehabilitating those engaged in services such as DTP, stamp vending and photocopying, many of whom were displaced after the court complex was shifted to Batamaloo. An increase in footfall, the letter added, would also help rejuvenate the historic city centre. Feroz Ahmad Baba, President of the Traders Association Central Lal Chowk, told Rising Kashmir that despite repeated representations to the LG administration and the district authorities, no concrete action has been taken so far. “This building is completely useless at the moment, and it is our heritage. It should be made functional for a genuine purpose so that it brings tourism and employment to the city centre. Shifting government offices into this court complex can help a lot,” he said. Baba added that traders had also met officials in the LG administration, who, according to him, showed interest in making the complex useful. The issue is not new. As far back as 2016, then Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Law and Justice, Abdul Haq, had stated that the government was considering converting the old lower court complex into a heritage site. However, no tangible steps were taken thereafter. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo said he was not aware of the issue. “I will get it checked,” he said