Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has ordered status quo on the proposed demolition of Bidhan Bhavan, also known as Roy Villa, a century-old heritage property currently functioning as the state Circuit House.
The villa, built before 1923 by Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy—who later became Chief Minister of West Bengal—served as his family’s summer residence and is considered an important architectural landmark.
A Division Bench of Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew and Justice Biswadeep Bhattacharjee on Thursday directed that the case be placed before the regular PIL bench led by the Chief Justice, and that no action be taken on the property until the next hearing.
ALSO READ: Pop-rock icon Richard Marx to headline Me’gong Festival 2025 in Meghalaya
The PIL was registered earlier this month after a letter to Chief Justice Soumen Sen flagged the structure’s historical and architectural value.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the state filed a short affidavit, with the Advocate General informing the court that a detailed version would follow after examining records on the villa’s origins and its conversion into a Circuit House.
Amicus Curiae S Chakrawarty said he would submit his affidavit after reviewing the state’s full response.
