Srinagar, Aug. 6 -- Srinagar- Expressing concern over what it described as the growing "menace" of building violations and the alleged inaction of civic authorities, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has restrained the commercial use of a property in Srinagar allegedly being operated as a hotel and directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to collect records relating to the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued for the property.

A bench of Justice Rahul Bharti observed that rampant building violations were leaving law-abiding residents "mere spectators" while municipal and other civic authorities often appeared to be "turning a blind eye, by design or default," allowing illegal constructions to reach completion and forcing aggrieved nei...