Sikkim High Court Calls for Statewide Building Regulations, Orders Sewerage Rules Within Three Months
Sikkim High Court Calls for Statewide Building Regulations, Orders Sewerage Rules Within Three Months
Gangtok, October 30 : The High Court of Sikkim has called for extending the Sikkim Building Construction Regulation, 1991, beyond Gangtok to cover the entire State, expressing serious concern over the unchecked construction of hotels and buildings in remote villages and environmentally sensitive areas.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning garbage accumulation and waste disposal, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan observed that unregulated construction poses significant environmental and ecological risks, including potential disasters. In its October 28 order, the Court emphasised the need for statewide construction regulations and structural safety measures.
The High Court also directed the State Government to frame rules under the Sikkim Sewerage and Sewage Disposal Act, 2025, within three months. Additionally, it ordered joint inspections by the State Pollution Control Board, district administrations and District Legal Services Authorities to examine waste disposal practices at hotels, pharmaceutical companies and other industries across Sikkim.
The Court further directed that hotels operating without mandatory pollution-control consent after March 31, 2027, face immediate closure. It also urged the Union Government to consider empowering District Collectors to initiate action against water pollution violations. The State Government is expected to communicate its position on extending building regulations at the next hearing, scheduled for November 25, 2026.
Report By Vishnu Neopaney
[ Sikkim High Court Building Regulations, Sikkim High Court Order 2026, Sikkim Sewerage Act 2025, Sikkim Hotel Construction Rules, Sikkim Pollution Control Board, Sikkim Environmental Protection ]
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