HP High Court directs Police protection for NHAI Slope-Protection work
HP High Court directs Police protection for NHAI Slope-Protection work
Shimla, Sept 17,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the District Administration to ensure that ongoing slope-protection and stabilisation work on the NHAI highway is not obstructed, and to provide necessary police assistance for its execution.
The directions were issued on September 14, 2026, in Court on its own motion vs. NHAI & Others, CWPIL No. 212 of 2017 along with CWPIL No. 27 of 2019. The Bench comprised Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi.
The Court was considering an application filed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) seeking implementation of its earlier order dated August 11, 2026. The proceedings concern, among other issues, compensation to affected landowners and execution of slope-protection works.
The Court noted that the proposed protection works include benching of unstable slopes, soil nails/cable anchors, 3D geo-mat, geotextile, turfing and vegetation, catch-water and berm drains, and rockfall barriers.
On compensation, the Court was informed that Rs 5.27 crore had been disbursed to 15 affected persons from Tahula and Jalanaal after they submitted the required undertakings and bank details. Of 48 affected persons, 33 from Thalout and Nagarni had not yet submitted their consent.
The Court directed that the undisbursed compensation amount be kept in fixed deposit, earning interest, until the concerned persons claim the compensation.
The Bench also took note of the opening of the Dayod-Hanogi tunnels for one-way traffic, which, according to submissions before the Court, has provided relief from traffic jams and landslide-prone stretches.
The Court left it open for affected landowners to approach it through appropriate applications and observed that its present observations were prima facie. The matter has been listed for October 8, 2026.
The order is part of the High Court’s continuing monitoring of the highway project, a matter that has been before the Court since 2017.
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