The Court was hearing the Himachal Pradesh government’s appeals against NGT orders that had banned all kinds of construction activities in the ecologically sensitive areas of Shimla.
In an order passed in November 2017, the Tribunal had called for the finalisation of a new development plan. Subsequently, its orders set up committees to oversee the implementation of its directions.
The draft development plan for 22,450 hectares of Shimla Planning Area which was finalized by a notification dated April 16, 2022, came to be stayed by the NGT in May 2022. The State approached the High Court in appeal against this interim order.
While the matter was pending before the High Court, the NGT passed a final order in October 2022 holding that the draft development plan, being in conflict with its order, was illegal and could not be given effect to.
Source: Barandbench
