Residents of Sector 15A in Noida have moved the Allahabad High Court, seeking judicial review of a proposal to divert the four-decade-old Vrindavan Park for building a religious site, citing the absence of consultation, potential environmental harm, and violations of due process.
More than 200 residents have urged the court to examine whether the land’s classification can be altered, if environmental impact assessments were undertaken, and whether statutory procedures were followed before advancing the proposal.
In their writ petition before the high court, the residents are challenging the plan to repurpose the long-used public green space, alleging breaches of planning regulations, environmental safeguards, and principles of natural justice. They have maintained that the park is designated as public green land and cannot be converted without lawful reclassification, proper impact studies, and public consultation, Maktoob Media reported.
The petitioners have further claimed that no transparent approval process or environmental evaluation has been disclosed, and that activity at the site suggests an attempt to pre-empt due process. They have sought court directions to restrain authorities from altering the park’s status, ensure compliance with urban planning laws, and safeguard the community’s right to public green spaces.
According to the residents, the park, which has around 200 mature trees and is regularly used by senior citizens, children, and families, forms essential public infrastructure and cannot be repurposed without a transparent legal process.
Tensions reportedly escalated after an unauthorised board describing the area as a proposed religious site appeared inside the park without official markings from the Noida Authority, along with yellow tape indicating the site was under construction. Residents objected to this, following which the board was replaced with one bearing the authority’s signature.
The episode is said to have split the Hindu-majority neighbourhood into two groups, with one backing the religious construction and the other opposing the replacement of the park. The disagreement later turned into a verbal confrontation, during which supporters of the proposed site reportedly raised religious slogans.
Subsequently, both sides approached the local police station with complaints against each other, with those supporting the religious project alleging trespass by residents seeking to preserve the park.