Shimla, August 5
In a relief to the state government, the High Court yesterday vacated the stay order on all permissions for felling/lopping of trees in the Shimla municipal area.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua clarified that the stay on all permissions granted for felling/lopping of trees by the appropriate authority was vacated.
It directed the state authorities that no tree and not even a single branch of any tree would be cut under any circumstances without any authority of law.
The court passed the order on an application filed by the government for the modification of the order passed by the court on May 4, whereby the court had stayed all permissions on felling of trees. It was contended in the application that the monsoon season was at its peak and there was possibility of uprooting of dangerous trees, which might cause a threat to life and property.
The court had passed the orders on a petition treated as the PIL, highlighting the issue of illegal felling of green trees within the jurisdiction of the MC, Shimla, in violation of the statutory provisions. The petitioner had prayed to quash and set aside the permissions granted for felling of trees and to restrain the authorities from furthering the process of illegal felling of green trees and granting permission in future without the leave of the court, in the garb of dangerous trees, or widening of the existing roads. — OC
Courtesy: Tribune News Service
