Krishnapuram: A historic court building from the era of the Travancore royal kingdom, located within the Bishop Moore School campus near Krishnapuram Palace, is set to be partially demolished. School authorities cited student safety concerns as the reason, with demolition work scheduled to begin today.

The building once housed one of the five Sadheer courts established in Travancore in 1868 during the reign of Rani Gauri Lakshmi Bhai. The term Sadheer, from Urdu, referred to a principal court of law.

At the time, Travancore’s penal system was rudimentary, and the British introduced reforms that led to the establishment of these courts based on modern legal principles. The royal family chose a bungalow, previously used by the British, as the site for the court, which functioned there until 1931.

Even after the court was relocated to Kayamkulam, it retained the name Krishnapuram Munsif Court before eventually being renamed Kayamkulam Court. After the relocation, the building served as the CSI Mission Hospital and, 55 years later, was handed over to the CSI Church, which now runs the adjacent Bishop Moore School.

Despite its historical significance, the Department of Archaeology’s recommendation to preserve the structure as a protected monument did not materialise into action. With no decision forthcoming, permission was reportedly granted for its demolition, drawing concern from heritage enthusiasts.
The partial demolition of the building marks the end of a chapter in Krishnapuram’s rich legal and colonial history, leaving behind memories of a bygone era in Travancore.