Authority: Uttarakhand High Court
Order Date: 17 August 2026
Case Overview
- Petitioner: Canara Bank (tenant of a building in Village Dharchula Dehat, District Pithoragarh).
- Respondents: State of Uttarakhand, National Highway Authority of India (executing agency), and other respondents.
- The dispute arises because a portion of the building housing the bank’s branch has been acquired by NHAI for widening the Pithoragarh‑Dharchula‑Garbyang road under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
- The bank fears demolition of the acquired portion and seeks protection to secure alternative accommodation and to prevent interference with the road‑strengthening work, which can be carried out only during a limited weather‑dependent window.
- Counsel for the petitioner (Mr. M.K. Goyal) and for the respondents (state counsel, Union of India counsel, etc.) appeared via video conferencing before Hon'ble Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari.
Final Outcome
- The Court directs the petitioner to make a representation to the National Highway Authority of India within three days from the date of the order.
- The NHAI must decide on the representation within one week of receiving it, as per law.
- Status‑quo regarding the building in which the bank’s branch operates shall be maintained until a decision is taken on the representation.
- If the petitioner fails to make the representation within the stipulated three‑day period, the protection of this order shall cease, and the authorities may proceed with demolition in accordance with applicable law.
Topics: Banking, Infrastructure Development