Legislature
Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, also called Haryana Legislative Assembly Secretariat is one of the most magnificent buildings in the city beautiful. The Vidhan Bhawan building is common for both the Haryana and the Punjab State Legislative Assemblies. Haryana emerged to be a separate State on the map of India on November 1, 1966. Right from the times of the British Raj till the partition of the country in 1947, and thereafter, since its bifurcation from the erst-while Punjab State in 1966, it has remained the citadel of democracy and more so the hub of politics in the country. Haryana also enjoys the privilege of being a nucleus of ancient civilization and culture of India. It is the land of sages and seers, where Vedas were composed and immortal message of the Gita was wrought.
This building spells the visitors with its unique modern art and architecture personally designed and supervised by the world renowned French Architect, Mons. Le Corbusier, whose services were engaged by Indian Government to design the city of Chandigarh on modern lines of architecture and structure. With the beauty of the city, the dream of the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and the then Chief Minister (Joint Punjab) Sardar Partap Singh Kairon was realized.
The structure of the Vidhan Bhawan, as visualized by the Le Corbusier, presents a physical expression of the law making body. Situated in a commanding position, on one side it is flanked by the High Court, the law interpreting body, and on the other, the Civil Secretariat, the law executing authority. Before the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966, this building housed the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council of Joint Punjab (Punjab, Haryana and Himachal) and Punjabi and Hindi Regional Committees, alongwith Library, Committees of the House, the Legislative Secretariat and a Cafeteria. During the Re-organization of the Punjab State in 1966, Himachal was made a separate State with its Capital at Shimla while Haryana and Punjab had to keep their Capital at Chandigarh which was declared as Union Territory. Under the Re-organization, the buildings of Vidhan Bhawan and Civil Secretariat were made common.
Haryana Vidhan Sabha shares this building with its counterpart, Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The Chamber earlier used by the Punjab Legislative Council is now Chamber of the Haryana Legislative Assembly. In the South-East of the hyperbolic shell above, there appears a pyramid shaped roof, it is the Chamber of the Haryana Legislative Assembly. At present, the South wing of the building is with Haryana Legislative Assembly which includes a space for 16 branches of Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, the Office of the Honble Speaker, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Honble Deputy Speaker, Secretary, Committee Rooms, Library and a Lounge for Members.
Chamber: This fascinating building is characterized by some wonderous architectural designs, ranging from pyramid roof, projecting giant lamp posts, tall columns supporting flat slabs to various odd and fantastic shapes in reinforced concrete. The building has a central tower of 120 feet height, with a base diameter of 130 feet which goes on lessening with the height, in the form of a hyperbolic shell. This peculiar shape makes possible for such a big hall to be supported without any columns. The roof-diameters is about 70 feet which slopes towards South-East. The building is square in shape with spacious rooms at North, West and South, Haryana Assembly Chamber and a grand big gate at East and an open towering roof supported by pillars in the middle. It has two Assembly Halls viz Punjab Legislative Assembly and the Haryana Legislative Assembly. The Punjab Assembly Hall flourishes in the Center, while the Haryana Legislative Assembly Hall pokes its head in pyramid shape at South-East part of the building. The sitting capacity in Haryana Assembly Hall is 90.
The Hall in the Centre is flanked by V.I.P.s gallery, Visitors gallery and Speakers gallery and overhead Press gallery and Officers Gallery add the grandeur of this small hall. While the interior part touches the mind with its marvelous and well planned construction, its exterior part cheers the heart with its panoramic picture of ship stucked hyperbolic shell and pyramid shaped construction. This is, in fact, the first structure at Chandigarh which has been designed with seismic consideration.
To maintain Assembly Hall at a temperature of 78oF during summer and 68o F during winter with relative humidity of 50%, a center air-conditioning plant working on reverse cycle system, has been installed on the ground floor near the Library of Haryana Vidhan Sabha.
The Chamber is fitted with most modern system of sound equipment which works on low level microphones, thereby avoiding all loud noises in the Hall.
The building is approachable from three sides. While the Ceremonial Entrance faces the High Court, the General Entrance is in front of the Secretariat. The Ceremonial Entrance is used when the Governor leads the procession to address the members of the Vidhan Sabha during Session times. The main entrance of the Ceremonial Gate is 25 feet square, and contains a pivoting enameled door, fabricated in France as per design of Le Corbusier. It was presented as a gift by the French Govt.
The Speaker and the Ministers ordinarily arrive from the front wing. Indeed, the building housing Haryana Vidhan Sabha and Punjab Vidhan Sabha presents a spectacular look, both from within and outside.
Source: http://haryanaassembly.gov.in/
