Kerala Cabinet Approves First-of-its-Kind Judicial City Project at Kalamassery

The Kerala Cabinet on Tuesday approved the ambitious Judicial City project, to be established at Kalamassery near Kochi, at an estimated cost of ₹1,000 crore. This will be the first project of its kind in the country, aimed at easing congestion at the present High Court premises in Kochi.

The proposal for the judicial complex was first discussed in 2023, during the annual meeting between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and then Chief Justice of the High Court Ashish Jitendra Desai.

Currently, the Kerala High Court functions from its Marine Drive campus in Kochi. Expansion at the site has been hampered by severe space constraints and the proximity of the Mangalavanam bird sanctuary, an eco-sensitive zone that imposes restrictions on construction activities.

The upcoming Judicial City will serve as a modern judicial hub, housing the new High Court and associated infrastructure. Spread across a built-up area of 12 lakh sq. ft., the project is designed around three towers, symbolising the fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 14 (Right to Equality), 19 (Right to Freedom), and 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution.

According to the plan, one tower will rise to seven storeys, while the other two will each have six storeys. Officials said the project aims to provide state-of-the-art facilities for judicial functioning and ensure smoother access to justice.