The Meghalaya High Court expressed shock over indiscriminate and large-scale illegal felling of trees in Lawsohtun area of East Khasi Hills district.
This comes at a time when the court is seeking a report on action taken by the government to stop indiscriminate felling of trees throughout the state.
A division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh on Wednesday expressed concern when Senior Advocate K. Paul brought to the notice of the bench that there has been has been indiscriminate and large-scale felling of trees in Lawsohtun, that the entire landscape and environment of the place has undergone a change.
The bench sat to hear a report of the government while hearing a PIL filed by Geraldine G Shabong, which initially sought orders to stop illegal or irregular felling of trees in and around the Lower New Colony area, Laitumkhrah.
“We direct the petitioner to file an affidavit in course of today bringing on record the above fact. Relying on the submission of Mr. Paul to be supported by the said affidavit to be filed we take suo motu cognizance of this development,” the court said.
Meanwhile, the court is not happy with the report submitted by the three-member committee headed by the Chief Conservator of Forests (T) to implement its orders to stop illegal felling of trees.
Pointing out that the committee has made a large-scale delegation of duties and responsibilities to the Divisional Forest Officers (DFO), the court said till date little action has been taken.
The court said the committee has classified the trees for felling mentioned in various applications by individuals as “dead trees”, “trees which are not dead” and which could be preserved by “lopping off some branches”.
“Either the committee has taken on record the opinion of the Divisional Forest Officer that a particular tree is “dead” or “needs lopping off branches” or it has directed the said officer to classify the condition of the trees accordingly and furnish a report before it,” the court noted, and asserted that the committee reserves the right to cross-check the reports filed by the DFOs.
“This will not do,” the court said and directed the committee to make visits and inspection of trees and verify the truth of the report filed by the officers, make further directions and take a decision.
The court also directed the committee to immediately call for a report from the concerned DFO with regards to large-scale illegal felling of trees in Lawsohtun area.
“Till this exercise is completed by the committee by taking decisions or approving decisions by Divisional Forest Officers, it shall not permit any felling of trees or even “lopping off branches” unless it is absolutely satisfied that the condition of the tree is such that it poses an imminent danger to life or property or both,” the court said.
It directed the state to file a further status or action taken report by July 18 with a copy to the Advocate on-Record for the petitioner.
The PIL is scheduled for July 22, 2025.
