By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Aug 31: A major fire that broke out in the 90-year-old AP High Court building on Monday shook the authorities rudely as the very stability of the historic structure is threatened by the inferno.
Structural engineers, who visited the spot, later briefed Chief Justice Anil R Dave that the fire caused extensive damage to the walls of the central part of the building. They suggested against the use of the court halls located on
the first and the ground floors of the building till they submitted the final report on Thursday.
The experts detailed the damage to the judges in a full court meeting held at the administrative building soon after the fire mishap.
As many as 10 chambers including six used by judges, the Registrar-General of the High court's chamber, a judges lounge, mini conference hall and a library of judges located on the first and the second floors of the building were destroyed in fire. A court hall (court No. 7 ) adjoining the conference hall was also damaged. However, none was injured in the mishap.
The library, which had an extensive collection of books, many of which are considered highly valuable, bore the brunt of the mishap.
Sources in the judiciary told this correspondent that the library had the rarest
collection of England Law Reports, Privy Council Journals and a lifesize portrait of the Nizam and portraits of judges.
The imported furniture of antique value and two big alarms brought from England as also decorative chandeliers housed in the library were gutted.
However, the registrar-general said the records of the High Court are "absolutely safe". The fire had not touched the records.
Following the mishap, holiday has been declared for the High Court on August 31 and
September 1. The Registrar-eneral said arrangements are made to take up urgent matters as and when moved. He said the High Court will regularly function from September 2.
According to judicial authorities, the fire broke out on the second floor located in the central part of the building at about 4.40 am. A security guard and a watchman of the court noticed the fire and informed the sub-inspector of the special protection force on the night duty. Special Protection Force is looking after the
security of the building.
Sub-Inspector Brahama Chary informed the fire services at 4.50 am and fire tenders rushed to the spot within 15 minutes after receiving the information.
About 15 fire brigades were pressed into service to extinguish the flames. The fire was brought under the control by at 7.30 am, said the registrar-general.
The authorities said initial reports suggested that it was caused by an electric
short-circuit. However, top officials of the police and the fire department are trying to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Forensic department experts collected samples from the spot to find out what had caused the mishap.
This is said to be the first major fire accident in the AP High Court since it started functioning on April 20, 1920.The construction started on April 15, 1915 and was completed on March 31, 1919. The High Court building was inaugurated by Nizam VII.
The High Court stands on the south bank of the River Musi. This is one of the finest
buildings in the city, built in red and white stones in Saracenic style, by Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan.
The Chief Justice visited the spot at 5.15 am and later Governor ND Tiwari, and ministers Ms Sabita Indira Reddy,Mr Danam Nagender, and Mr M Venkata Ramana and city police commissioner Mr B Prasada Rao and Ms Aruna Bahuguna, director-general of fire services are visited the spot. A case was lodged in the Charminar police station by the High court authorities.
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