Srinagar Municipal Corporation criticized by court over illegal buildings as it launches online hall booking portal

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh censured the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for allowing illegal constructions to proliferate in the city, noting that civic authorities often turn a “blind eye” to violations. The court directed the Anti‑Corruption Bureau to gather records of No‑Objection Certificates for a disputed building in Khanyar and ordered the SMC commissioner to submit a compliance report.

Separately, SMC Commissioner Faz Lul Haseeb inaugurated an online Community Hall Booking Portal at the corporation’s headquarters. The portal aims to digitise the reservation process for municipal halls, improving transparency, efficiency and citizen access to services. Officials were instructed to ensure smooth operation and public awareness of the new system.