The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the state government to locate a new location for its premises outside of Nainital within a month, citing the move as essential for the greater public good.
“The High Court needs to be relocated from Nainital for the greater good of the public,” stated a division bench led by Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Thapliyal.
The bench requested the Chief Secretary to choose an appropriate location for the High Court within one month. It instructed the Registrar General to establish a website for receiving input from lawyers and the public regarding the matter.
The upcoming hearing in the issue is set for June 25.
The high court noted that the proposed shift of the High Court to Gaulapar in Haldwani would result in deforestation due to the 75% forest cover on the earmarked land.
The high court also suggested specific land and facilities needed for its relocation, including suitable housing for judges, judicial officers, staff, and courtrooms.
The chosen location needs to be large enough to have facilities like rooms, dining area, parking, and meeting hall for a minimum of 7,000 lawyers, as stated by the bench.
It said the location should be close to excellent medical services and good transport connections.
Last week, the Uttarakhand High Court instructed the state to consider relocating a bench to the closed Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited campus in Rishikesh, which spans hundreds of acres and houses former IDPL employees.
The land of IDPL Rishikesh, spanning 850 acres, is up for relocation. There are no trees in IDPL Rishikesh, making it feasible to relocate the High Court here with low costs. Nainital is confronted with major obstacles concerning transportation, healthcare services, and housing facilities, as stated by Rajeev Sharma, president of the Dehradun Bar Association, in an interview with this newspaper.
Sharma pointed out that the lack of medical care after a heart attack resulted in the recent death of senior advocate Paresh Tripathi, shedding light on the inadequacy of medical facilities.
Earlier in the day, the High Court instructed the state government to investigate the option of relocating a bench to IDPL Rishikesh.
The bar association has shown a lot of resistance towards the high court’s movement to a new location.
