The Uttarakhand High Court has asked the state government to include members of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in the committee formed to oversee the relocation of residents from Sunderkhal village in Nainital district, who have long complained about the absence of basic facilities.
A division bench of Chief Justice G Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay said the presence of DLSA representatives would help ensure that the affected families are considered for land leases under the Forest Rights Act and receive essential services such as electricity, water supply, and healthcare.
The existing committee was created to examine the claims and rights of people living in forest areas, including those seeking relocation or settlement.
During the hearing, the bench sought clarity from the state government on the steps taken so far based on recommendations submitted in 2014, when a government-appointed panel had acknowledged the villagers’ demands and decided that relocation was the appropriate solution.
The Public Interest Litigation was filed by the Independent Media Society, informing the court that residents of Sunderkhal, who have lived in the region since 1975, were deprived of electricity, potable water, healthcare, and access to proper education.
Despite the government’s 2014 decision in favour of relocation, the petitioners said no concrete action has been taken in the last decade, leaving the community in a “highly remote and inaccessible area” without any meaningful infrastructure.
Sunderkhal villagers have been demanding relocation for several years, citing both day-to-day hardship and the absence of development.
The court’s directive is expected to push the process forward, with added oversight and legal safeguards to protect the rights of the affected residents.
