PIL In Allahabad High Court Seeks Removal Of Alleged Encroachments, Illegal Activities In Govardhan Parvat Parikrama Route

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking action against alleged illegal activities being conducted at the foot hill of the Holy Govardhan Parvat in Vrindavan.

Petitioner, a resident of Govardhan, espoused the cause of the people living in the area and elsewhere. It was submitted that construction of bathrooms, crematoriums, graveyards and other constructions at the foot hill of the Govardhan Parvat is harming the beliefs of the public at large.

Petitioner emphasized that the Govardhan Hill has been declared a protected forest area and that the officials of the Forest Department have failed to protect the area. It is alleged that officials are complicit in the illegal encroachments being constructed along the ‘parikrama’ path. In the petition, it has been stated that the encroachment and construction in the area only began after the establishment of the office of the Forest Department.

Petitioner stated before the Court that earlier an order had been passed by the National Green Tribunal directing the removal of encroachments in the area, however, neither the Forest Department nor the Mathura Vrindavan Development Authority have acted upon the direction. Instead, the encroachments and constructions have continued to grow in the area, it is averred.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava asked the petitioner to approach the NGT stating it was the appropriate forum to deal with such matter. However, as the Petitioner expressed reluctance, Court reserved orders in the case.