📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Original: Harshit SR
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Politics
CM Dhami asks Centre’s approval to use forest land for relocating Uttarakhand High Court
✍️ India Today
🗓 04 Nov 2026, 02:33 AM
👁 11
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has written to the Union government seeking permission to allocate forest land for shifting the state’s High Court, currently in Nainital, to a new site.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has formally approached the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change requesting clearance to earmark a parcel of forest land for the relocation of the state’s High Court. The proposal aims to move the court from its present premises in Nainital to a purpose‑built complex in Dehradun, the state capital.
In his letter, Dhami highlighted the logistical challenges faced by litigants and lawyers who travel to the hill‑station venue, especially during winter months when roads are often blocked by snow. A Dehradun location, he argued, would improve accessibility and reduce operational costs for the judiciary.
The centre’s nod is required under the Forest Conservation Act, which mandates prior approval for any diversion of forest land for non‑forestry purposes. The state government has prepared a detailed project report and is awaiting the central authority’s assessment before any ground‑breaking can commence.
Environmental groups have been informed of the proposal and have been asked to submit their observations as part of the statutory clearance process. The final decision, expected in the coming weeks, will determine whether the high court’s shift proceeds as planned.
In his letter, Dhami highlighted the logistical challenges faced by litigants and lawyers who travel to the hill‑station venue, especially during winter months when roads are often blocked by snow. A Dehradun location, he argued, would improve accessibility and reduce operational costs for the judiciary.
The centre’s nod is required under the Forest Conservation Act, which mandates prior approval for any diversion of forest land for non‑forestry purposes. The state government has prepared a detailed project report and is awaiting the central authority’s assessment before any ground‑breaking can commence.
Environmental groups have been informed of the proposal and have been asked to submit their observations as part of the statutory clearance process. The final decision, expected in the coming weeks, will determine whether the high court’s shift proceeds as planned.