High Court gives state two weeks to file reply

Vijay Arora

Shimla, July 29

The Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed the state government to file response to the detailed report filed by amicus curiae on the issue of felling of a large number of deodar trees in Mcleodganj within two weeks.

The court had appointed an amicus curiae for assisting the court in this matter and he has filed his report before the court. In his report he referred some irregularities on the part of state authorities. During the course of hearing, the state had sought some time to file response to the report filed by him.

While granting two weeks time, a division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan listed the matter for further hearing on August 19.

The Bench passed these orders on a petition taken up suo motu by the court as public interest litigation on a letter written to the Chief Justice by Ghazala Abdullah alleging that a large number of deodar trees are being felled in the Mcleodganj area in Dharamshala for commercial activities. It was further alleged that the petitioner informed this matter to the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, Additional Superintendent of Police, Kangra and Municipal Council Dharamshala, Forest Department Dharamshala and Panchayat Pradhan, but no action was taken by the authorities against the culprits.

The court had received another complaint along with a CD as evidence, alleging that the directions of the court were not being complied with and the trees were being felled by some persons under the pretext that they have obtained the permission from the authorities to cut trees and no action was taken against them.