Shillong, Feb 7: The Meghalaya High Court has issued a directive to the state government, ordering a halt on tree felling decisions that have not been implemented yet.
A division bench of the court has instructed the authorities to keep the felling of trees in abeyance and review such decisions to ensure that they have been made in accordance with law.
“The State respondents are directed to disclose all pending applications for felling of trees in the above region. They shall ensure that all these applications are processed and disposed of strictly in accordance with the said Act and Rules. It should state the status the procedure followed and the outcome of each and every pending application,” a division bench of the High Court consisting of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh stated.
The division bench of the high court directed that the information and action shall be contained in an affidavit to be filed by the state by February 28, 2025 with a copy served on the Advocate-onRecord for the petitioner.
The High Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking orders from the court to stop illegal or irregular felling of trees by the state authorities in and around the Lower New Colony area, Laitumkhrah.
However, according to the court, considering the nature, scope and impact of the writ petition, it included the entire East Khasi Hills district within the purview of the petition and this order.
In the writ petition, the writ petitioner, Geraldine G. Shabong relied upon the Meghalaya Tree (Preservation) Act, 1976 and the Meghalaya Tree (Preservation) Rules, 1976 framed thereunder which, inter alia, provide that before according permission to fell a tree in the State, an application has to be made by the Divisional Forest Officer in Form-I of the said Rules, followed by an enquiry by the Divisional Forest Officer before such permission is granted.
“The Nagar Van Yojana (NVJ) scheme of the Government of India in 2020, restrained felling of trees and promoted “urban forestry”, the writ petition averred.
By citing certain examples, the writ petitioner has tried to impress upon the court that without following due procedure, the state respondents have indiscriminately felled trees in the above area, on complaints being made by individuals that the trees were either obstructing ingress or egress or were standing dangerously.
According to the petitioner such felling of trees also include felling of heritage trees which are over a century old.
Meanwhile, ND Chullai, Additional Advocate General appearing for the state government filed an affidavit-in-opposition affirmed on June 18, 2024 attempting to deal with the allegations.
“We do not find any indication therein as to whether the procedure in the above rules has been followed. If any felling of trees has already been done irregularly or illegally it is irreversible. We direct that wherever such felling has taken place, the respondents will take steps to plant trees more or less of the same type or description, so as to restore the ecology of the area,” the division bench of the high court stated.
The next hearing on the PIL will be held on March 5, 2025.