Authority: High Court of Uttarakhand at Nainital

Order Date: 26 October 2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Harsh Singh Bisht filed Writ Petition Misc. Single No. 2511 of 2026 against District Magistrate Nainital and others.
  • Respondents include District Magistrate Nainital, Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan, Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam, Century Pulp & Paper (Lalkuan), and ITC Ltd (Lalkuan).
  • Century Pulp & Paper gave an undertaking on 09 September 2021 (Annexure 1) based on Committee report dated 22 August 2019 (Annexure 6) to construct a tube well with overhead tank at Ghoranala, Bindukhatta, Lalkuan, to ensure safe drinking water, and to bear all expenses if the work is carried out by the Chief Engineer, Jal Sansthan, Uttarakhand, Vikash Bhawan, Bhimtal.
  • The tube well and tank have not been constructed, forcing residents to consume polluted water, forming the basis of the petitioner's grievance.
  • ITC Ltd., which took over Century Pulp & Paper on 01 August 2026, expressed willingness to comply with the CSR undertaking.
  • Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam (respondent No.3) agreed to execute the construction provided land and funds are made available.
  • The petitioner indicated that land would be provided by the villagers of Bindukhatta after negotiations with the State Government or other stakeholders.

Final Outcome

  • The Court, after hearing counsel for all parties, disposed of the writ petition with consent of the parties.
  • It directed the petitioner to arrange and provide land of sufficient capacity in the village for the tube well and overhead tank.
  • Upon provision of land by the petitioner, ITC Ltd. (respondent No.5) shall release the necessary funds to Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam (respondent No.3).
  • Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam shall construct the tube well and overhead tank of sufficient capacity within six months from the date it receives both land and funds.

Topics: Court Order, CSR Compliance, Rural Water Supply