Calcutta HC extends stay on demolition of Mandarmani hotels built on beach till January 24

The Calcutta High Court has extended the stay on the demolition of hotels built illegally along Mandarmani Beach in East Medinipur, West Bengal, until January 24, following a hearing on the matter. Justice Jay Sengupta, who passed the order, also scheduled the next hearing for January 17. The extension follows a legal challenge by hotel owners against a previous order issued by the National Environmental Court, which mandated the demolition of hundreds of hotel structures allegedly built in violation of environmental regulations.

The East Medinipur District Administration had ordered the demolition of illegal constructions after the National Environmental Court's directive. These constructions, many of which have entertainment facilities built atop boundary walls overlooking the beach, were said to be obstructing the natural coastline and harming the local ecosystem. The District Administration had initially set a deadline of November 20 for the removal of these structures. However, the hotel owners, challenging the demolition notice, filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court seeking to stop the process.

In response to the petition, the Calcutta High Court issued an interim stay on the demolition, halting any action by the authorities. The court’s decision to extend the stay today further delays the demolition process until January 24. The case will be revisited during the hearing on January 17. The outcome of this case could significantly impact the ongoing development of tourist infrastructure in Mandarmani, a popular coastal destination in West Bengal.