Rights panel takes note of encroachment on footpaths, illegal PGs in Gurugram

The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of The Tribune’s stories, ‘7,000 illegal PGs, guesthouses being run in Gurugram,’ and ‘No place to walk, 75% footpaths encroached upon in Gurugram.’

In the case of illegal paying guests (PGs) accommodations, the commission has directed the Director General of the Urban Local Bodies Department (ULBD), Director General of the Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD), Director General of Fire and Emergency Services, Chief Administrator of Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram, Chief Executive Officer of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and Commissioner of Gurugram Municipal Corporation to submit reports on the actions taken.

The relevant authorities have been asked to furnish details on the number of PGs and guesthouses operating in residential areas, their registration and licensing status, fire and safety compliance measures, action taken against illegal establishments and preventive steps proposed to safeguard life and human rights.

The Tribune story published on January 18 uncovered widespread illegal growth of PG accommodations and guesthouses in residential areas of Gurugram. It highlighted that residential buildings are being transformed into overcrowded commercial lodging units without registration or approval from the Municipal Corporation, violating applicable building, zoning and fire safety regulations.

The Commission Bench comprising Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra, Member Kuldip Jain and Member Deep Bhatia observed that such illegal use of residential accommodations “leads to overcrowding, power and water infrastructure collapse, sanitation issues, traffic congestion and serious safety risks.” It added, “The mushrooming of PGs and guesthouses in residential areas is, therefore, not a minor municipal irregularity, but a gross violation of statutory planning norms.”

The commission noted that similar illegal PGs in Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi, led to a serious fire incident in September 2023, and also in Noida in March 2025, where girls had to jump from upper floors to escape through adjacent buildings.

It added, “The failure of the authorities concerned to effectively regulate, monitor and prevent these hazards amounts to state inaction, resulting in a breach of constitutional obligations and a direct infringement of the human rights of affected persons.”

In regard to ‘No place to walk, 75% footpaths encroached upon in Gurugram’, published on January 19, the commission has directed the relevant authorities of ULBD, TCPD, HSVP, GMDA, DC Gurugram and Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, to submit reports on action taken.

They have been asked to furnish details on the extent of footpath encroachments and the action taken to remove those. Further details on measures adopted to ensure pedestrian safety in high-speed and residential zones, as well as timelines for the restoration and long-term protection of footpaths, have also been sought.

The next date in both cases is March 25.