Attara Katcheri outshines Vidhana Soudha

Attara Katcheri outshines Vidhana Soudha

The Hindu

Pompeian red structure steals the limelight


BANGALORE: The High Court of Karnataka building, which has remained overshadowed by the Vidhana Soudha in the last 50 years, had never looked so resplendent.

The illumination for the golden jubilee celebrations of the High Court made the sprawling structure ever painted in Pompeian red, refulgent. For a change, the building, still fondly called Attara Katcheri by old Bangaloreans, eclipsed the Vidhana Soudha. All eyes and cameras were on the double-storeyed building, whose old portion (facing the Vidhana Soudha ) is 142 summers old.

The High Court annexe overlooking the Cubbon Park is less than two decades old. Few public buildings have missed out on celebrations as the High Court building has. There probably was no illumination on the day India became free as on that day the princely State of Mysore was yet to join the Indian Union.

The day of the reorganisation of the State, November 1, 1956, heralded a certain decline in the fortunes of the High Court building. That day witnessed the transfer of power from it to the Vidhana Soudha, which was declared open the same day.