Shillong, Nov 28: The Meghalaya High Court has ordered a status quo on the proposed demolition of Bidhan Bhavan, also known as Roy Villa, a pre-1923 heritage structure built by Bidhan Chandra Roy, former Chief Minister of West Bengal. The building, which once served as a family summer retreat, currently functions as the state Circuit House.

A Division Bench of Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew and Justice Biswadeep Bhattacharjee referred the matter to the regular PIL bench of the Chief Justice, directing that the status quo remain in place until the next hearing.

The order came in response to a PIL filed earlier this month, following a letter to Chief Justice Soumen Sen highlighting the villa’s historical and architectural importance. During Thursday’s hearing, the state government submitted a short affidavit and assured the court that a detailed affidavit would be filed after examining historical records and documents related to the building’s conversion into a Circuit House.

Amicus Curiae S Chakrawarty informed the court that he would submit his affidavit after reviewing the detailed report from the state.