Supreme Court Orders Restoration of Green Belt in Karnal After Colonel's Challenge Against Road Construction

The Supreme Court of India ordered the Haryana government to restore a green belt in Karnal after Colonel Davinder Singh Rajput contested the rapid construction of a road allegedly intended to benefit the local BJP office. The 100-meter road, built by Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) in October 2023, involved the felling of 40 trees and was completed to bypass a High Court status quo order.

Rajput, a retired Army officer, argued that an alternative access road existed just 100 yards away. The HSVP claimed the road was necessary for safety and traffic management. The Supreme Court, however, dismissed this rationale, stating it misled the court and ordered the restoration of the green belt while instructing the authorities to find alternative access within three months. Rajput's legal battle included petitions in both the High Court and Supreme Court following the construction's commencement amid opposition from local residents.