Patiala House: Palace to Seat of Justice

 Tuesday, the 28th of May, 2024, the India International Centre at New Delhi was witness to an august gathering to commemorate the launch of the coffee table book ‘Patiala House: Palace to Seat of Justice’ authored by Hon’ble Ms. Justice Poonam A. Bamba, former judge of the Delhi High Court.

The book celebrates the historical significance, architectural beauty, and hidden charm of the Patiala House situated in Lutyens Delhi. This magnificent building has a singular history of transformation from an abode of royalty to a seat of justice.

The coffee table book, divided into two parts, captures this transformation by first transporting one to the grand era of royalty, enthralling one with anecdotes of the times gone by-both supernatural and real; before bringing one back to reality, captivating one’s attention with thrilling details of high-profile cases that were tried in these precincts.

Justice Bamba found herself in a unique position to tell the tales associated with the palace, that generally go unnoticed in the hustle-bustle of litigation. While serving as the District and Sessions Judge of the New Delhi district, which functions from the Patiala House, she felt a strong connect with the building, and was yearning to put forth the stories hidden hitherto.

Speaking at the event, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Navin Chawla, Judge of the High Court of Delhi termed the coffee table book as a ‘work of art’ and ‘masterpiece’, hailing the efforts undertaken by the author to capture both the aesthetic beauty and historic significance of the palace. He further said that the multifaceted character of the book made it difficult to fit it into a single genre!

The book launch was enriched by the august presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manmohan, the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, who spoke about how the heritage of the palace has been preserved, highlighting the contributions the author made towards this effort through initiatives she pioneered during her tenure as District and Sessions Judge despite the difficulties of managing and maintaining such a heritage structure. He closed his remarks by stating that the book could aptly be described as a ‘treatise’.

The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Sh. Vinai Kumar Saxena, graced the event. Speaking on the need to document the history of such structures in Delhi, he commended the author for capturing the elegance of Patiala House. He pointed out the imminent need for preservation of Delhi’s historical structures, and spoke about ongoing efforts to restore their lost glory. He lauded the in-depth nature of the book, especially the presentation of its architecture, and invited Justice Bamba to participate in their efforts to preserve heritage structures. The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor called the book a ‘treasure trove’, and said that it should find a place in every leading library of the country. In conclusion, he said that the coffee table book is worthy of replication all over India in all courts housed in such historical buildings.

Many former companion judges of the author, from the Delhi High Court and the Delhi district judiciary were present, apart from estimable members from the Bar, bureaucracy, arts, and other walks of life.