CHENNAI: As renovation of the heritage chief metropolitan magistrate court at Egmore is nearing completion, nearly a century-old court across it on Adithanar Road has been razed leaving no trace. The public works department (PWD) demolished the additional chief metropolitan magistrate court a month ago citing structural weakness.“The structure was crumbling. After inspection, it was ascertained that the building was not a heritage building enlisted in the Justice E Padmanabhan Committee report on heritage structures,” a PWD official said. The report had enlisted 464 buildings in Chennai, grading them under three categories in 2010. Though this building was contemporary to the age of chief metropolitan magistrate court, PWD sources said the decision was taken to demolish due to its poor condition. “The two-storeyed structure did not fall under the category of inspection. It was pulled down more than a month ago as it was crumbling,” the PWD official said. The additional chief metropolitan magistrate court building stood over a land of 2.5 grounds. PWD sources feigned ignorance of the new structure that would take the place of the razed building.Its sister building squarely opposite to the chief metropolitan magistrate court is under renovation. The century-old building is being renovated at a cost of Rs 5 crore using traditional conservation techniques and skilled masons to revive the Indo-Saracenic style structure. While the chief magistrate court was shifted to the Allikulam Moore Market complex to facilitate renovation work two years ago, the additional chief metropolitan magistrate court that was vacated around the same time was abandoned.Senior advocate and member of the Madras High Court Heritage Committee, N L Rajah said the building was not associated with any significant heritage value. “The building fell outside the purview of the heritage committee as it did not have any historical or heritage value attached to it. Even if there is a minor doubt over its heritage significance, we would verify it with experts,” he said. Rajah said the demolished building had been constructed as an added facility as the chief metropolitan magistrate court was getting congested. Moreover, the PWD’s heritage division had inspected the building ahead of taking the decision on demolition, he added.

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