Uttarakhand HC reserves verdict on proposed shift from Nainital to Haldwani

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand High Court has reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the proposed relocation of the court from Nainital to the Bel Baba area of Haldwani and the alleged earmarking of reserve forest land without mandatory approval from the Union administration.

Key points

• They additionally cited the Supreme Court's July 15, 2026 order and an Uttarakhand administration notification issued on August 12, 2026, saying both recognised the disputed site as forest land.
• Shah asserted that the district magistrate prepared the land proposal in May 2026 while a stay granted by the Supreme Court was in force.
• The owner of a leading Nainital hotel informed this newspaper that relocating the High Court would benefit the town and tourism.
• "Under the stringent provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, the power to de-reserve forest land or change its character rests solely with the Central government, " the petitioners argued.
• Lawyers opposing the relocation argued that Uttarakhand was created primarily to promote the development of its hill regions.

For context, a Division Bench of Senior Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Pankaj Purohit reserved its judgment after hearing submissions from the petitioners, the state administration and other parties.

"If the High Court has to be relocated from Nainital, it should be shifted to another suitable place in the hills rather than to the plains, " they submitted.

Petitioner Raman Shah, a lawyer and Uttarakhand statehood activist, alleged that a proposal prepared by the Nainital district magistrate to provide reserve forest land near the Bel Baba temple for the High Court violated Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. He sought action against authorities allegedly responsible for the violation.

For context, the petitioners informed the court that extensive plantation had been carried out in the identified area and maintained that the site formed part of an elephant corridor. They additionally cited the Supreme Court's July 15, 2026 order and an Uttarakhand administration notification issued on August 12, 2026, saying both recognised the disputed site as forest land.

They further submitted that neither the state administration nor any other authority could transfer or alter the apply of such land without prior central clearance.

Counsel for the state administration rejected the allegations and maintained that the relocation process was being carried out according to prescribed rules. The administration additionally rejected the environmental objections and noted the proposed site did not fall within an elephant corridor.

Meanwhile, the petitioners questioned the government's insistence on Haldwani, arguing that the Supreme Court had directed the authorities to identify suitable land anywhere in Nainital district and asking why other locations had not been considered. After hearing the rival submissions, the Bench reserved its judgment.

Notably, the owner of a leading Nainital hotel informed this newspaper that relocating the High Court would benefit the town and tourism.

"Nainital is simply unsuitable for the High Court. The decision to shift it is welcome, " he remarked.

For now, uttarakhand HC reserves verdict on proposed shift from Nainital to Haldwani remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.