The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the Secretary of Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority to ensure no illegal construction is raised within the premises of the Mangla Devi Inter College, Karanpur, Dehradun.

The Division Bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari  and Justice  Alok Kumar Verma heard a Public Interest Litigation alleging that, anti-social elements are constructing shops in a place earmarked as a playground for students of an inter college, in collusion with the management of the college.,

On June 17, Rahul Consul, Counsel for the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) , on instructions, stated that the construction being raised is on a playground; the illegal construction was raised during the lockdown period and, consequently, the respondents were unaware thereof; action has been taken to stop further construction; the Senior Superintendent of Police, Dehradun has also been requested to provide protection to seal the premises; and necessary steps would be taken shortly to have the premises sealed, and thereby ensure that no further construction is resorted to.

Later on June 24, Rahul informed the Court that the legal construction being raised has been sealed in order to prevent any further construction being raised thereupon. “In the meantime, the Secretary, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority being the respondent no.5 shall ensure that no illegal construction is raised within the premises of the Mangla Devi Inter College, Karanpur, Dehradun,” the order reads.

The Bench has posted the matter in the week commencing November 22.

The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday refused to issue orders to shift a mobile tower to another place, saying,

“It is neither the responsibility nor the duty of this Court to run the administration. Where a mobile tower should be erected is a decision that needs to be taken by the respondents themselves.”

The petitioner, Samay Sharma, was aggrieved by the fact that the Indus Towers Ltd. (respondent no. 5) is permitted to erect a mobile tower in Aaganwadi Campus, Shivlok Colony, Ramnagar, Raipur, Dehradun, and approached the High Court.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that since the mobile tower may adversely affect, not only the children, who will be attending the Aaganwadi Campus, but also others, who reside in the residential area of the colony, the state of Uttarakhand, District Magistrate, Dehradun, Dehradun Smart City Limited, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority and Nagar Nigam, Dehradun should be directed to move the mobile tower to some other place.

While considering the submission of the petitioner’s counsel, the Court asked the counsel for the petitioner, if there is any bar, in the law, which prevents a mobile tower from being erected and which have been permitted by the respondents to be erected? To this query, the counsel has frankly conceded that there is no bar in the law.

Therefore, the Court ordered, “No mandamus can be issued to the respondents for shifting the mobile tower to another place”, observing that “It is neither the responsibility, nor the duty of this Court to run the administration.”

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The Court while disposing the PIL states,

“At best, if the petitioner were to file a representation before the respondent nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6, they are directed to decide the representation, after giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, and after hearing all his grievances with regard to the erection of the Tower, and shall pass a reasoned order thereafter. Such exercise shall be carried out by the said respondents within three weeks, after receiving of the representation to be filed by the petitioner.”