BENGALURU: The histories of the Karnataka High Court and its current, impressive home – the Attara Kacheri – did not converge for 88 years. The Kacheri was completed in 1868, and the Court moved in only in 1956.
Drive through the Ambedkar Veedhi, you will get to see Karnataka High Court – an imposing structure in Pompeian red – and Vidhana Soudha standing exactly opposite to each other.
This court building, known as Attara Kacheri, was earlier home to 18 administrative offices of the erstwhile Mysore state.
The then Commissioner of the Mysore state Lewin Bentham Bowring had found Tipu’s Summer Palace (near KR Market) too small to accommodate the state’s administrative offices. So, in 1863, he sent out the proposal for a new building. The construction that began in 1864 was completed in 1868. “The cost went up to Rs 4.5 lakh,” says Arun Prasad, a city historian.
“The 18 offices were brought to the Attara Kacheri building when Bowring realised that Tipu’s palace – where the offices were shifted after British took over the administration from Wodeyars – was not sufficient to accommodate enough people,” says Prasad. “Moreover, the condition of the building was deteriorating as it was old.”
A building to house the government offices was actually proposed much before. “But the First War of Independence held things up a few years,” says Meera Iyer, co-convener of INTACH’s Bengaluru chapter.
Colonel Richard Sankey, the Chief Engineer of the Mysore state, designed and planned it. “Though the design was made by him, it was executed by Arcot Narrainsawmy Mudaliar, a well-known philantropist and businessman,” says Prasad.
Mansoor Ali, an architect in the city, says, “The building built in Victorian Era is painted in Pompeian red by British to mark their authority. It is the same case with other buildings too.”
The location of the building also reflects the history of the time. “It is situated between the cantonment area – dominated by the British – and the city area – where locals lived. The location was chosen to make it accessible to everyone in the city, says Prasad.
After the construction of a huge building, the next task Sankey took up was “enhancing beauty of the building by creating a park around it. That’s when Cubbon Park came up,” he says.
INTACH’s Meera says that Sankey seems to have been quite proud of the verandahs running around the building. Quoting a report he wrote after the construction, she says: “Hardly a ray of direct sunlight finds its way into the building while at the same time there is abundant light and ventilation!”
The building draws influences from classical European architecture, even while including local elements. “The long arcades and the Ionic columns hark back to classical forms of architecture popular in Europe during the Renaissance period and enjoyed a revival in the 19th century,” says Meera.
The roofing was originally of the type called the Madras terrace roof, a style that was used throughout southern India in the 19th century. The roof is made of small bricks (or ‘aachikal’) that are held together using lime mortar, then wooden beams are placed to span and hold its length.
There were other local elements used in the architecture, says Meera. “Granite was used for the ground floor walls and flooring, and bamboo matting for the roofs of some of the verandas.”
As an honour to Mark Cubbon, his statue is installed in front of the High Court. “The statue astride a horse was sculpted by the Italian-born Frenchman Carlo Marochetti, whose works are found in many cities around the world,” says Meera. “The statue once marked the main entrace into the building. What is now the front of the building was really once the back of it.”
The building has undergone many modifications and has even doubled its span over the years. The orginal building faced the Museum Building in Cubbon Park, with a series of steps leading into the Kacheri from the park. When there arose a need for more space, a replica (mirror image) of the existing building was built facing the Vidhana Soudha in 1917.
The Court Moves In
Sixteen years after the Kacheri was built, the Karnataka High Court was established in 1884 as the Chief Court of Mysore. It began with three judges – British ICS Officer Flemuor, TRA Tambur Chetty and A Ramachandra Rao -- and now has 35.
In 1920, the Chief Court of Mysore became the High Court of Mysore. High Court of Mysore was renamed High Court of Karnataka in 1973.
In 1956, the court building was shifted into the Kacheri and the 18 administrative offices into the Vidhan Soudha.
Citizens Save Court
There was a plan to demolish the building in the 1980s and Bengalureans opposed the proposal. “Many people came forward to save it,” says Ali. “A PIL was also filed against the demolition.” It was heard in the very building that was to be demolished, points out Meera.
The Kacheri has a museum that holds memories of a bygone era. “Pens, hammers and judgments are all preserved in the museum,” says Ali.
Landmark Cases heard at the court
Chief Justice Medapa murder conspiracy
Advocate LS Raju along with his son LR Jayaram, friend Dasappa Naidu and Chief Justice Medapa’s maid Agnes David tried to kill the Chief Justice by poisoning his tea with mercuric floride on January 29, 1951. Fortunately, Chief Justice was in a hurry and did not consume the tea, which saved his life. After the quack doctor Narayana Prasad, who helped them in the crime, and maid Agnes David confessed, the accused were tried by the Additional Sessions Judge at Bangalore. LS Raju was sentenced to two years simple imprisonment and a fine of `2,000. The judge sentenced Dasappa Naidu and the maid to two years imprisonment, besides fining them. LR Jayaram was acquitted and discharged.
Appeals were filed by the accused in the Mysore High Court. These appeals were subsequently transferred to the Bombay High Court by an order of the Supreme Court of India. Bombay High Court Chief Justice MC Chagla assessed the case. He dismissed the petition and upheld the punishment.
Belur Srinivasa Iyengar Case
Belur Srinivasa Iyengar, advocate at Karnataka High Court, was residing at his home – Ranga Vilas – situated in the heart of Gandhi Nagar Extension in Bangalore. He had given up his profession due to old age. On June 5, 1956, he along with his five family members and pet dog were killed and were robbed of all their valuables. On the night of June 8, head constable Vedagiri was on patrol duty in Seshadripuram. He observed a person moving in suspicious circumstances. He stopped to question him. He found him carrying a crow-bar and a steel rod which are generally used by thieves for house breaking.
Early in the morning of June 9, 1956, when Channa was produced in front of the Inspector of Police of Seshadripuram Basavarajiah, he learnt from Channa that he along with his friends Krishna Reddy, Muniswamy Reddy and Govind Reddy had committed burglary in the house of Belur Srinivasa Iyengar. The police managed to catch hold of the other three accused with the help of Channa. The case was being heard at a sessions court. They were given death punishment. They later appealed in the high court. After the judgment, the three others were given death punishment. They were hanged till death at Bangalore Central Jail, now Freedom Park. It was the first capital punishment given by the court after the Karnataka state was formed.
Jayalalithaa’s return
Jayalalithaa’s disproportionate assets case is one for the most recalled case that came up in the Karnataka High Court. After Justice C R Kumaraswamy’s judgment acquitting her on May 11, 2015, Jayalalithaa could return as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 23, 2015. Jayalalithaa was accused of misusing her office during her first tenure as chief minister during 1991-96 to amass properties worth `66.65 crores. The High Court acquitted her of all charges.