HC seeks reply from Centre & State on PIL challenging ITBP closing village route
Friday, 15 September 2023 | PNS | NAINITAL
The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the State and Central governments to file their response within four weeks in a Public Interest Litigation filed by residents of Matli village in Uttarkashi agains the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) blocking the route of the villagers to their temple, school and ghat. The division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal issued this direction while hearing the PIL on Thursday.
According to the case details, Malti village residents Ramlal Nautiyal, Praveen Nautiyal, Vinod Prakash Nautiyal, Vachaspati Nautiyal and Ram Kishan Nautiyal have filed the PIL. The petitioners have stated that the agricultural land of the village was acquired by the ITBP for construction of its camp office and staff quarters. An agreement was also made as per which a route would be made for the villagers to access their temple, school and ghat. After the construction work was completed, the ITBP built a boundary wall to enclose the site. A route was made to enable the villagers to reach the temple, school and ghat from near the petrol pump. However, later this route was closed. The villagers are facing considerable problems due to this route being closed. The villagers and their children are checked while going to the school. The villagers had filed a case in the district court in this matter. The petitioners stated that the ITBP had stated in the district court that it would open the route for the villagers after which the villagers withdrew the case. However, after the case was withdrawn, the route was closed again. The villagers then approached the High Court and have appealed that the route be opened for them.
