Dehradun: The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the state government to identify all parks, playgrounds and open spaces across the state and officially notify the consolidated list within nine months.
A division bench issued the directions while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the alleged commercial use of the only available public playground in Ramnagar town.
The court instructed the Secretary of Urban Development to complete the identification exercise under Section 3(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Parks, Playgrounds and Open Spaces (Preservation and Regulation) Act, 1975, as applicable in Uttarakhand, within six months.
It further directed the state to publish the final list under Section 3(4) of the Act within three months after completing the identification process.
PIL Raises Concerns Over Commercial Use of Ramnagar Playground
The PIL raised concerns over the use of the MP Inter College sports ground in Ramnagar for commercial events.
The playground was originally leased to the institution in 1935. However, the petitioner alleged that it was increasingly being allocated for commercial activities instead of being reserved for sports.
The petitioner also submitted that despite the statutory requirement under the 1975 Act, the state government had not identified and published a comprehensive list of parks, playgrounds and open spaces.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel highlighted the shortage of open spaces in Uttarakhand’s urban areas, particularly those available for sporting activities among young people.
The counsel emphasised the need to preserve parks and playgrounds for future generations, citing their importance for physical and mental well-being.
High Court Had Earlier Restricted Non-Sporting Use
The MP Inter College playground had previously been the subject of judicial intervention.
On November 16, 2022, a coordinate bench of the Uttarakhand High Court had restrained the college management from using the ground for any purpose other than sporting activities.
Taking note of the broader issue of non-compliance with the statutory provisions, the division bench has now directed the state government to complete the identification and notification process within the prescribed nine-month period.
The directions seek to ensure that parks, playgrounds and open spaces across Uttarakhand are formally identified and brought under the regulatory framework provided by the 1975 Act.
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