Forest Land Denial Halts Uttarakhand HC Move

The proposed relocation of the Uttarakhand High Court from Nainital to Haldwani has encountered another significant obstacle. A Regional Empowered Committee (REC) from the Union Environment Ministry has rejected the State government's plan to divert 30 hectares of reserved forest land in the Lamachaur area.

The committee stated that the State government had not sufficiently explored alternative non-forest sites for the project. It also pointed out deficiencies in the justification for the chosen site, project documentation, layout plans, and wildlife protection measures. The REC advised the State to prioritize locating the court complex on non-forest land before seeking forest clearance.

This decision represents the second major setback for the High Court's relocation initiative. An earlier proposal to move the court to Gaulapar was denied in January 2024. The current proposal faced scrutiny regarding the felling of 123 trees and concerns about a potential elephant corridor. The existing High Court in Nainital is reportedly insufficient for the growing staff and Bar members, with pending cases increasing dramatically.