The Supreme Court of India has given the Bihar government a six-week deadline to remove all unauthorized structures along the Ganges River between Nauzar Ghat and Nurpur Ghat in Patna.
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan issued the directive in a July 21 order, noting that authorities have failed to take corrective action despite prior judicial commands. The judges warned that any further negligence by officials regarding the clearance of encroachments would face severe court scrutiny.
Compliance Report Mandated
The apex court instructed a competent authority to submit a formal compliance report detailing the removal efforts prior to the next session. The court is scheduled to hear the matter again on September 23, 2026.
Origin of the Legal Dispute
The order follows an appeal filed by petitioner Ashok Kumar Sinha, who was represented by Advocate Akash Vashishtha. Sinha contested a June 20, 2020 ruling by the National Green Tribunal that had dismissed his original petition requesting official action against illegal structures along the riverbank.
During the hearing, Vashishtha informed the bench that 213 encroachments had been identified in 2023 along the stretch connecting Digha Ghat to Nauzar Ghat.
