Behind the Lamachaur land request: the Supreme Court's clearance for moving the Uttarakhand High Court

Background

Uttarakhand's request for forest land at Haldwani rests on a Supreme Court decision already given.
The Court permitted the State of Uttarakhand to go ahead with its proposal to move the High Court from Nainital to Haldwani.
It also set aside the High Court's own direction that a referendum be held on the question.
The case is reported as High Court Bar Association v State of Uttarakhand and others.
The State Cabinet had approved the shift as far back as 2022.
The Court said such issues belong to the High Court's administrative side, in consultation with the State, rather than to judicial proceedings.
The Court directed that possession of the Haldwani land be handed over on an as is, where is basis within six weeks, with a transfer notification to follow within eight weeks.