Shimla, Aug 26,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has restrained a private developer in Barog from expanding an under-construction hospitality project beyond its existing six floors, underscoring judicial concern over unchecked vertical growth in ecologically fragile hill areas.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Satyen Vaidya issued the order on August 22, 2025, while hearing three connected Public Interest Litigations. The petitions raised alarm over unauthorized constructions, particularly a multi-storey project by M/s S.A. Hospitality Services Private Limited in Barog.
Photographs placed before the Bench revealed a six-storey structure with additional pillars erected to support further vertical expansion. Taking note of this, the court explicitly barred the developer from raising any more floors.
“This Court is of the opinion that no further floors would be added by M/s S.A. Hospitality Services Private Limited to the said structure and it would remain restrained from adding further floors to the said building,†the Bench observed.
Beyond restraining the specific project, the court broadened its scrutiny, directing the Director of Town and Country Planning (TCP), Solan, to conduct a site inspection. The official has been tasked with verifying the permissions obtained for the Barog hospitality unit and submitting a detailed report on its approved use.
In a significant extension of scope, the Bench further ordered the TCP Director to survey all high-rise buildings exceeding six floors in the Barog Hills facing Kumarhatti, and to confirm whether such constructions conform to statutory approvals.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on September 19, 2025, by which time the inspection report is expected.
This judicial intervention comes amid heightened attention to illegal constructions in Himachal Pradesh’s hill towns. Just a day earlier, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had initiated suo motu proceedings on reports of multi-storey buildings mushrooming along riverbanks and steep slopes in violation of safety and environmental laws. The NGT has sought status reports from multiple departments, including TCP, on steps taken to curb such practices.
Also read: NGT cracks down on Illegal hill constructions in disaster prone areas of Himachal
The High Court’s latest directive, coupled with the NGT’s intervention, signals increasing judicial oversight on unregulated construction in Himachal’s vulnerable landscapes.
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