The Punjab and Haryana High Court has voiced its concerns regarding ongoing construction activities in Kaimbwala village, Chandigarh, which is recognized as an ecologically sensitive area. This situation persists despite an existing prohibition by the court’s Division Bench.
The court expressed its astonishment at the authorities’ failure to halt such activities, especially in light of the ban. This statement followed the examination of a report from the Local Commissioner and a video presentation that documented numerous construction projects and new boundary walls on the disputed land records.
The Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor, acknowledged the findings in a report submitted on August 31, along with a USB drive from advocate Nitin Kaushal, appointed as the Local Commissioner in a previous hearing.
This case stems from a suo-motu application initiated by the high court against the Chandigarh Administration and other parties involved. The application, represented by Senior Advocate Akshay Bhan, Advocate Shaurya Khanna, and Advocate Akhilesh Barak, focuses on the alleged construction activities taking place in Kaimbwala.
The urgent application highlighted that the construction intensified on August 10 and 11, when private individuals reportedly brought in heavy machinery and 8 to 10 laborers to a joint agricultural holding in Kaimbwala, specifically Khasra No. 23/12. It was alleged that deep trenches were excavated and work began on a permanent reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structure, with steel pillars rising to nearly 10 feet.
The applicants claimed that despite sending real-time alerts, formal complaints, and site reports via email and WhatsApp to officials such as the Deputy Commissioner and Tehsildar Enforcement on August 11, there was a significant lack of administrative response and enforcement action. They accused the authorities of neglect, allowing the construction of the 10-foot RCC wall to proceed unhindered.
This alleged construction is situated within the designated Sukhna Lake Catchment Area and an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), located just 500 meters from Sukhna Lake. The applicants warned that the establishment of such a permanent structure would disrupt the natural drainage and hydrology of the region. They referenced prior protective orders issued by the high court on March 14, 2011, and December 18, 2020, which explicitly prohibit new constructions and changes in the catchment area.
Furthermore, the application pointed out that records from June to August 2026 indicated a persistent trend of unchecked construction activity on the joint estate. They alleged that between June and July, over 25 to 100 truckloads of soil and industrial waste were dumped across various Khasra numbers, raising the ground level by four to six feet. They also claimed that large shade curtains were set up to hide nighttime excavation activities, with machinery used to bury debris in deep trenches.
The application cautioned that if the case remained scheduled for September 10, the ongoing construction of the RCC wall would likely be completed, resulting in significant alterations to the landscape and obstructing natural water flow to Sukhna Lake. The applicants requested an expedited hearing and interim orders to cease all construction work.
In its ruling on August 31, the high court emphasized the expectation that authorities would uphold the existing legal status as dictated by previous court orders and prevent any unauthorized building in the area. The court also allowed for parties affected by the Local Commissioner’s report to present their objections.
The court instructed revenue officials to provide an affidavit detailing the individuals responsible for the construction of the boundary walls, which is in direct conflict with the Division Bench’s judgment. The case is scheduled for a follow-up hearing on September 10, 2026.
Jagpreet Singh Sandhu, a Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express in Chandigarh, brings over a decade of experience in legal, crime, and environmental reporting in the tri-city region (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula).
His primary focus includes covering the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions, with a reputation for elucidating complex legal rulings and following high-profile criminal cases.
In addition to legal reporting, Jagpreet has established himself as a prominent voice on environmental issues, particularly concerning the declining air quality and changing weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana area.
He frequently covers topics at the intersection of crime and technology, including cybercrime and the development of policing apps aimed at enhancing citizen engagement.
Notable articles from late 2025 include in-depth analyses of significant legal verdicts and pressing public health issues:
- “12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case” (December 17, 2025): A detailed report on the acquittal of a judicial officer in a prominent dowry death case from 2013.
- “‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old” (December 16, 2025): Coverage of a severe judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case.
- “Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception” (December 9, 2025): Reporting on a unique legal perspective regarding consent in a rape case.
