Court dismisses plea for compounding of offence in Forest Hill Resort case

A local court today dismissed the application of Sector 10 resident Col (retd) Baljit Singh Sandhu seeking compounding of offence under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, in a case related to Forest Hill Resort (FHR).

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Col Sandhu, 65, was convicted for the violation of Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Rupnagar, on September 17, 2009. The court found the application untenable at the face of it since the pendency of civil litigation would have no impact upon the adjudication of the application through which compounding of offence has been sought.

Accused was convicted in 2009

Col (retd) Baljit Singh Sandhu, 65, was convicted for the violation of Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Rupnagar, on September 17, 2009. The court found the application untenable at the face of it since the pendency of civil litigation would have no impact upon the adjudication of the application through which compounding of offence has been sought.

“Besides, the accused had himself relied upon the Punjab and Haryana High Court, dated April 1, 2025, in a writ petition in which it was directed that in case petitioners within 30 days from the order, filed apposite application for compounding of offence before the appellate court, the latter should decide the same within two months. However, the application for compounding of offence was filed on April 28, 2025, and thus, it has to be decided till June 26, 2025,” the order read.

The appellant had averred that the land falling under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, is to be treated as forest land and the provisions of Section 68 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, permit the compounding of offences by the Forest Officer.

However, the state (respondent) termed it to be unsustainable and misconceived since there was no provision under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, to compound any offence.

Taking the proceedings further, the court will hear arguments on the main appeal on July 7, 2025.