Shillong, Sep 25: The State government has requested the Meghalaya High Court to modify the court’s April 9 order related to indiscriminate felling of trees in the State as this has led to stalling of various developmental projects.
Advocate General Amit Kumar in his submission said that the procedure prescribed in the order has led to great difficulty and hardships on account of all tree felling work being stalled in the State, which includes projects of infrastructure and public welfare.
Kumar submitted that the modification is necessary in view of the fact that though Rules and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as mandated by Supreme Court orders are in place, the directions contained in the order, effectively create a parallel mechanism through a Committee of officials and experts, which supplants and overrides the statutory authority vested in the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and the appellate mechanism that is existing.
Senior counsel K. Paul for writ petitioner, Geraldine G Shabong, argued that the court’s order does not affect the apprehension voiced by Kumar and sought time to put in an objection to the modification.
He pointed to the order wherein the court had clarified that “very necessarily does not cover any case where the Central government had accorded permission for forest clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 for any development purpose or any direction made by it for deforestation, afforestation and so on.”
The division bench of Acting Chief Justice HS Thangkhiew and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said, “This Court first notes that ample opportunity had been provided to the writ petitioner to file the reply or objection to the miscellaneous application but however, the same has not been filed till date.”
The court said since the case requires further consideration as to the purport and impact of the order the writ petitioner is allowed two weeks’ time to file an objection.
The matter will be heard on October 7, 2025.
