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Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Encroachments along Bindal river to be cleared by June 30: U'khand govt to HC
Dehradun: Uttarakhand govt on Monday informed the high court that all encroachments along the Bindal river in Dehradun will be removed by June 30, with two illegal structures already cleared by the administration during initial action. The court, hearing three public interest litigations related to threats to rivers, water streams, and the environment, listed the matter for further hearing after four weeks. A division bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra held a joint hearing on three PILs filed by Dehradun residents Ajay Narayan Sharma, Renu Pal, and Urmila Thapar. The petitions raised concerns over environmental degradation due to unauthorised construction on submerged land in Sahastradhara and encroachments on natural drains and slopes in Rishikesh, including the Bindal and Rispana rivers. The court had earlier ordered the state govt to remove encroachments from rivers, streams and water channels, and to install CCTV cameras at these sites, directing that these areas be managed like accident-prone zones on roadways. The court also asked the director general of police to ensure SHOs of relevant areas register cases against encroachers and submit reports. In an affidavit submitted to the court, govt said 29.5 hectares of the total 35.7 hectares identified within Dehradun municipal limits of encroachments had been removed and the remaining 6.2 hectares would be cleared by June 30. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo A dedicated committee is overseeing the removal work. The bench instructed the secretary of urban development to issue a public message cautioning citizens against encroachments, dumping of debris, and illegal mining in rivers and streams ahead of the monsoon season to prevent accidents. "This warning must go out urgently before the rains," the court said. Environmental groups have long pointed out that unchecked settlement and construction along the Bindal and Rispana riverbanks have severely reduced the rivers' natural flow and polluted them into near-sewage channels. A 2022 report found that the average width of the Rispana had shrunk from 319 metres in 1968 to just 68 metres. The National Green Tribunal had earlier fined local officials Rs 1 lakh each, citing "administrative negligence" in failing to prevent encroachments along water bodies. In April, the high court reinforced orders for installing CCTV and managing river zones with the same urgency as road accident-prone areas. Meanwhile, activists associated with Chetna Andolan said that under the guise of complying with the court's orders, poor residents were being evicted and rendered homeless. "No action is being taken against hotels and restaurants built on riverbanks, but poor families are being targeted first," one activist said. On May 30, dozens of daily wage workers and activists protested elevated road projects and demolitions, accusing the govt of sparing commercial buildings while evicting vulnerable households. In response, the Dehradun district administration asked municipal bodies to identify affected families for rehabilitation under schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
HC directs SSP, mining officer to stop illegal quarrying at once
Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court (HC) on Friday directed the district mining officer and the senior superintendent of police (SSP) to immediately stop illegal mining operations taking place at Manki Ghat Gaughat in Bazpur tehsil of Udham Singh Nagar district. The court also ordered the seizure of vehicles involved in the unauthorised activity. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for June 6. A division bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra gave the order while hearing a PIL filed by residents of Bazpur, including a man, Subeg Singh. The petition alleged that illegal mining is being carried out within the reserved forest area of the Kosi river during nighttime without any official sanction. The petitioners also claimed that when a team from the forest department previously attempted to intervene, members of the mining mafia allegedly attacked them. The forest department subsequently lodged a case at Kotwali Ramnagar. According to the petitioner, unchecked illegal mining along the Kosi River could threaten adjacent villages during the rainy season, possibly endangering farmers' fields and crops. The plea further stated that the entire Terai region is being affected by illegal miners, and called for an immediate stop to illegal mining and a firm action against the mining mafia. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Uttarakhand HC asks Centre to respond to UCC challenges within 3 weeks
Dehradun: (HC) has given the Centre three weeks to submit its reply on the (UCC) after a joint hearing on multiple petitions challenging the new legislation. A bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra heard a bunch of (PILs) filed against UCC, along with petitions submitted by individuals personally affected by its provisions on Monday and scheduled the next hearing for July 14. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Bhimtal resident, Suresh Singh Negi, in his petition, said that provisions related to under the UCC were 'unconstitutional'. The petitioner pointed out that live-in partners can separate by filing a simple application with the registrar, usually processed within 15 days, unlike the lengthy divorce process in marriages, which can potentially make live-ins a more attractive option for couples. "Live-in partners can separate by filing a simple application with the registrar, usually processed within 15 days, unlike the lengthy divorce process in marriages, which can potentially make live-ins a more attractive option for couples," Negi said. The court granted the Centre's request for three weeks' time to file its response. Earlier, it had asked the state govt to submit its reply, which it has already done. Petitioners currently in live-in relationships who had approached the HC said the mandatory registration form under UCC asks for previous information, which could compromise their safety. While current relationship details are manageable, petitioners said providing past records violates their privacy and must be amended. Since 2010, registration of marriages has been compulsory in Uttarakhand, with penalties including up to three months' imprisonment or a fine of Rs 10,000 for non-compliance. Uttarakhand became the first state in India to implement a uniform civil code, which came into effect on Jan 27 this year. However, public response has been limited — in the first 110 days, only 28 live-in relationships were registered, while over 1.4 lakh marriages were recorded. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now No penalties have been imposed for non-compliance so far. Officials attribute the low registration numbers to "public hesitation, concerns over privacy, and pending high court rulings on challenges to the UCC". To encourage compliance, the Dehradun district administration plans to launch ward-level camps for direct registration. Similar initiatives are expected in other cities to boost awareness and participation.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Uttarakhand HC voids state GST orders after rule deletion
Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court set aside orders passed by the state GST department, ruling that no action could be taken under Rule 96(10) of the CGST Rules, 2017, after its omission on Oct 8, 2024, as there was no saving clause allowing for pending proceedings to continue. A division bench comprising chief justice G Narendar and justice Alok Mahra passed the order while disposing of a case filed by M/s Sri Sai Vishwas Polymers, a partnership firm. The petitioner challenged the validity of Rule 96(10), calling it ultra vires to section 16 of the IGST Act, 2017, read with section 54 of the CGST Act, 2017. The firm, which manufactures gold bars and jewellery under Chapter 71 of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985, was audited by officers from the state goods and services tax department. The department alleged the assessee had wrongly claimed a refund of Rs 1,05,25,755 under IGST. Following the audit, the department issued a show cause notice and later confirmed the demand. The assessee challenged the proceedings, arguing that they were based on an alleged violation of Rule 96(10), which had already been omitted from the CGST Rules from Oct 8, 2024. It contended that no action could be taken under a rule that no longer existed in the statute. In response, the department said that the show cause notice was issued while the rule was still in force and that the omission would only operate prospectively. Hence, proceedings initiated before the rule's deletion should be allowed to continue. The bench noted that the Kerala high court had already declared the rule ultra vires in the case of Sance Laboratories Pvt Ltd vs Union of India. Following this, the rule was deleted through a notification in Oct 2024. The court said it would be redundant to again declare it ultra vires to section 16 of the IGST Act. The bench concluded that since the rule had been unconditionally omitted without a saving clause, all actions based on it must cease from the date of its deletion. It allowed the petition and set aside the state GST department's order issued on Feb 3 this year.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
How much noise 50 Gypsies create? HC questions state's proposal to open new safari zone in Corbett
Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court directed the state govt to submit a detailed report on the noise likely to be generated by 50 Gypsies operating in two shifts, if a new jungle safari is approved in Corbett Tiger Reserve 's Bailpadav range. A bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra also questioned the justification behind creating a new eco-tourism zone and raised concerns over its potential impact on wildlife when the matter was heard on Wednesday. The court asked the state govt to include observations from the pollution control board and confirm whether permissions were obtained from relevant departments before proposing the Chandni Safari . The court said, "Animals in forests are more sensitive to noise pollution than human beings like us. It would adversely affect them if we continue opening forests for jungle safari one after another." The petition, filed by residents of Ramnagar, argued that Corbett already has 15 designated ecotourism zones and that any expansion into new areas would disturb wildlife, increase human-animal conflict, and push animals towards human settlements. They alleged that the forest department failed to consult local villagers before planning the new safari zone , in violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and guidelines of the Government of India. The petitioner also claimed that the state govt acted without obtaining clearance from the central govt, which breaches established rules. The forest department, during the hearing, said the proposed eco-zone has not yet been notified. The court instructed the state govt to submit a compliance report within 10 days on whether procedural norms were followed. It added that the forest department's role was to conserve forests, not to turn them into destinations for parties or weddings, adding that such zones benefit the hotel lobby. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The proposed Chandni Safari in the Bailpadav range aims to develop a 35km safari track, allowing 30 to 50 vehicles per session, with an estimated investment of Rs 1.5 crore over two years. The forest department contends that this initiative would alleviate tourist pressure on existing zones and promote wildlife tourism. However, the expansion of eco-tourism in Corbett has faced criticism due to concerns over environmental degradation. Reports have highlighted issues such as illegal tree felling and construction activities under the guise of eco-tourism, leading to habitat disruption and increased human-wildlife conflict.
