There are public interest cases that begin with petitions, affidavits and carefully numbered grounds. This one began with a citizen who looked at what was happening below Sanjauli and decided that somebody ought to know.

The complaint concerned Bangala Colony in Shimla. The allegations were hardly subtle. Construction was said to be taking place on forest and public land. Green areas were being cemented. Deodar trees were allegedly being damaged. Pathways were being obstructed. Garbage and wastewater had become part of the grievance. Structures, the complaint said, were steadily occupying land that was not meant to be privately built upon.

The citizen first approached the local administration. When an effective answer did not follow, the grievance reached the Himachal Pradesh High Court. The sender chose anonymity, citing apprehensions about personal safety.

The Court did not treat anonymity as a substitute for evidence. It did something more useful. It sent someone to look.

Continue reading “Who Guards the Guards? A Citizen, a Forest and the Ward Office That Put Shimla’s Watchdogs on Trial” →