Nainital, Oct 12 In a significant order, the Uttarakhand High Court on Monday issued stringent directions for the protection of playgrounds, parks and open spaces across the state to safeguard them from encroachment and commercial use.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by national-level cricketer Shadab-ul-Haq, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manoj Tiwari and Justice Subhash Upadhyay directed the secretary, Urban Development Department, to prepare a list of all parks, playgrounds and open spaces across Uttarakhand within three months and notify them accordingly.
The court further directed the authorities to ensure compliance with the 1975 legislation governing their protection and to completely prohibit any restricted or commercial activity at such places.
In the order, the high court made specific reference to the playground of MP Inter College, Ramnagar.
The court made it clear that until the final list of playgrounds and open spaces across the state is prepared and notified, the MP Inter College ground shall be used exclusively for sporting activities.
The primary objective of the court's directions is to protect sports facilities across the state from unauthorised commercial use and ensure that young and emerging sportspersons have adequate spaces and a conducive environment in which to practise, train and develop their talent.
