The gavel fell silent in 2014 when judges, lawyers and litigants moved to a new court complex, leaving behind a stately red laterite courthouse that had dispensed justice in Mangaluru since 1862. Now, 164 years after it was constructed, the landmark building is preparing for its final denouement: demolition. The decision to demolish the building has reignited questions about heritage conservation in a city that has already lost several historic structures to redevelopment.For over one-and-a-half century, justice echoed through the high-ceilinged halls of Mangaluru’s principal district and sessions court. Lawyers argued landmark cases, judges delivered life-changing verdicts, and generations of litigants waited anxiously on its wooden benches. This building is now set to be demolished to make way for a modern five-storey court complex.A Courthouse Of MemoriesThe final chapter of one of Mangaluru’s oldest public buildings is a bittersweet one for the city’s senior advocates, who first found their voice in these halls. It was here that nervous juniors made their maiden submissions, earned their first victories, and grew into seasoned legal minds under the watchful eyes of mentors.Though the courtrooms fell silent, the memories they held did not. For advocates who spent decades within its walls, the building remained a repository of cherished moments and milestones, and they strongly feel that the building must be conserved.“I began my legal practice at the old court building,” says senior advocate Asha Nayak. “The building played a significant role in shaping the careers of many advocates. The structure could instead be preserved as a heritage site. Why demolish this and build a new building? It is not necessary. It can be maintained as a heritage building,” she adds.Strongly opposing the demolition, advocate Shashiraj Kavoor says the building must be preserved. “When I started practising in 2002, the court had a special atmosphere and natural ventilation. Once demolished, there will be nothing left to show future generations how this historic building existed. It was a divine place where many good judges delivered important judgments.”Why Demolition Is InevitableWith no suitable land available elsewhere and growing infrastructure requirements, the judiciary decided to opt for demolition of the old building to pave the way for a modern replacement. The structure has stood largely unused since 2014, its condition steadily deteriorating due to age, water seepage and inadequate upkeep.The redevelopment will also entail the demolition of the public prosecutor’s office, built within the court premises in 1983.According to a public works department official, the ₹60.2-crore redevelopment project has received administrative approval, and the tender was finalised this week. The proposed five-storey court complex is expected to be completed within two years.The official said demolition would begin after the foundation stone is laid, and all approvals are obtained. Construction is expected to commence after the monsoon. A proposal is also being considered to carefully dismantle the central courtroom, including its wooden interiors, and recreate it on the fifth floor of the new building, subject to feasibility, the PWD official added.Even as lawyers mourn the impending loss, officials are focused on the challenge of safeguarding more than a century of judicial records housed on the premises before demolition begins. The complex contains one of the oldest district central record rooms in the region, and officials said efforts are under way to digitise and safeguard archival documents.The court records will begin shifting within a week under judicial supervision, the PWD official said.Can Heritage Be Preserved?The building has no legal protection against demolition as it was never officially notified as a heritage structure. “Heritage conservation in Mangaluru is in a limbo due to the absence of a functional Heritage Committee under the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), despite the high court directions issued 3-4 years ago,” said a Mangaluru-based architect, who did not want to be identified.Deterioration, including seepage, is not a barrier to restoration, as any building can be conserved with the right expertise, said the architect. However, preserving heritage structures has become increasingly difficult due to the dwindling availability of skilled craftsmen capable of working with traditional materials such as Mangaluru tiles and wooden elements.“Even minor roof leaks, if left unattended, can cause extensive damage. While the court building’s Latin inscriptions and distinctive architectural features can still be preserved, any conservation effort must be guided by a scientific methodology and a detailed assessment of its historical and architectural significance,” the architect said.Mangaluru Bar Association president Jagadish Shenava said there had been no discussion within the association on whether the building should be preserved or demolished. “We have not received any representation or concerns seeking its conservation. The proposed court complex will include a replica of the existing courtroom on the fifth floor,” he said.Stories Etched In StoneThe court’s history predates the present building. A district court was first established in Mangaluru in 1806 under the Madras Presidency. After briefly functioning from Honnavar, it returned to Mangaluru in 1812. Following the division of Canara in 1860, a separate district court for South Canara was created, leading to the construction of the present courthouse in 1862.Above the judge’s seat is the Latin inscription Veritas Et Iustitia Imperii Fundamenta (Truth And Justice Are The Foundations Of Governance), reflecting the ideals of the colonial judicial system.One of the courtroom’s most unusual features was its manually operated ceiling fan. A rope passed through a hole in the wall, allowing a daffedar stationed outside to keep the fan moving during the court proceedings.“The building’s height, ventilation, and construction quality are unmatched by modern structures. We used to sit there without fans even during the worst summer conditions because of the height of the building and the air circulation,” recalled MLC and lawyer Ivan D’Souza.With demolition imminent, many of the building’s tangible links to Mangaluru’s judicial past may disappear, even if some elements are recreated in the new complex. The building that stood witness to countless verdicts, victories and heartbreaks for 164 years will exist only in photographs and in the memories of those who once argued beneath its high wooden ceiling.BOX: Courtroom That Witnessed History‘Ripper’ Chandran Case ProceedingsNotorious serial killer Muthukutty Chandran, widely known as ‘Ripper’ Chandran, was executed by hanging at Kannur Central Jail on July 6, 1991. Some of the trial proceedings related to the series of brutal murders and robberies he committed across northern Kerala and Karnataka between 1985 and 1986 were held at this court.Raghavendra Nagori Murder Case (1978)Kannada daily editor Raghavendra M. Nagori was stabbed to death near his printing press in Hampankatta, Mangaluru, in a gang rivalry. Rumours branding the murder as a communal reprisal sparked tensions, forcing police to impose a week-long curfew.Kalladka Ismail Murder Case (1976)The 1976 Kalladka Ismail murder, involving the strangulation of a popular news agent and emerging local leader, triggered widespread unrest, vandalism and communal polarization in the region.Praveen Kumar Vamanjoor Case (1994)Praveen was convicted of the murder of his 75-year-old aunt, Appi Sherigarthy, her daughter Shakuntala, son Govinda, and nine-year-old granddaughter Deepika.—-—-——-PHOTO CREDIT: Ravi PosavanikeCaptions: Court- 1 to 3: Old district court building in Mangaluru Court-4: A disconnected coin phone booth at the old court building is a testament to the advancement of technology. Inside-1, 2 and 3: An inside view of the old court building.
