Nagpur: Inside Nagpur's Old High Court building, now a protected yet neglected structure, Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar once argued a case that would overturn a death sentence, marking a defining moment in India's legal history.
In 1937, Ambedkar secured the acquittal of Agamandas, who was sentenced to death by a Raipur sessions court in a murder case widely believed to be driven by political motives. The case was brought to him by LN Hardas, then a legislator from Kamptee and a committed follower. Despite being elected to the provincial council on February 17, 1937, Agamandas found himself entangled in a legal battle.
At the time, Raipur and the broader Chhattisgarh region were part of the Central Provinces (CP) and Berar, with the high court headquartered in Nagpur. The Old High Court building in Civil Lines, then a symbol of colonial-era justice, became the stage for Dr BR Ambedkar's intervention.
Presenting his case with what records describe as "precise reliance on evidence," Dr BR Ambedkar dismantled the prosecution claims. On April 29, 1937, the court declared Agamandas not guilty, sparing him from execution and reinforcing the principle of due process in a colonial legal framework. The anniversary of the verdict will be observed on April 29, 2026, with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) planning a tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar at the Old High Court premises, said Uttam Shewde, the party's state publicity chief.
Even as the legacy of that courtroom victory endures, the building itself remains in shambles. Granted heritage status in 2018, the Old High Court building has seen limited attention from the Archaeological Survey of India despite its national significance.
The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court took cognisance of the neglect, initiating a suo motu public interest litigation to push for restoration in 2015. It has repeatedly pulled up authorities over inaction for over a decade. Recently, the responsibility for renovation was handed over to the state Public Works Department, offering a ray of hope for the structure's preservation.
The episode — where a death sentence was reversed through rigorous legal argument — continues to resonate beyond its time. It underscores the enduring role of the judiciary in safeguarding justice, while also highlighting the urgent need to preserve institutions and spaces that shaped India's legal and constitutional journey.
