SHIMLA: While hearing the matter regarding the utilization of newly renovated Town Hall building at Mall Road in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh high court has rejected the idea of utilizing the building partially as the offices of municipal corporation (MC)’s senior officials.As for the suggestion of utilizing the building as State Museum, the court has directed the state government to take the decision.Before renovation, the offices of civic body were housed in the dilapidated building and were moved out for renovation work. Now the MC wants the building back. But the high court, in a order dated December 13, 2017, had directed that after the restoration of the Town Hall, the building should be used in larger public interest for carrying out activities that promote art, heritage and culture. While hearing the matter on Thursday, a division bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel said that they are not convinced with the idea that some of the senior functionaries would sit in the Town Hall building, while other officials would be housed in other adjoining areas. According to the court, this is an impractical approach to the efficient functioning of the MC.It was also suggested that the State Museum can be shifted to Town Hall building, with a Modern Visitors Gallery to showcase the state in its entirety, with single entry and exit to the building.“For such purpose, the final decision will have to be taken by the state government, for which, advocate general assures the court to take up the matter at the highest level,” the court observed, while posting the matter for March 13 for further hearing.During the earlier hearing held on November 13 last year, the court had suggested to the advocate general as well as the counsel for MC to submit a conceptual plan of the Town Hall along with a detailed floor plan of the building. In the last hearing on December 13, additional advocate general had sought more time to submit a conceptual plan.

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