Chief Justice: Plantation drives crucial for safeguarding forests

Chief Justice of the Himachal High Court Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia today emphasised that forests are the lifeline of Himachal and community-driven plantation initiatives are crucial to safeguard them for coming generations.

He was speaking at a plantation drive organised by the District Legal Services Authority, Shimla, in collaboration with the Forest Department at Naldehra. The programme was held under the aegis of the Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority.

Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, who is also the Patron-in-Chief, HP State Legal Services Authority, inaugurated the plantation campaign.

The Chief Justice emphasised that judicial institutions and legal services authorities, apart from their role in ensuring access to justice, also bear a moral and social responsibility to contribute towards ecological preservation and sustainable development.

Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Judge and Executive Chairman, HP State Legal Services Authority, and other judges, including Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, Justice Sandeep Sharma, Justice Satyen Vaidya, Justice Sushil Kukreja, Justice Virender Singh, Justice Ranjan Sharma, Rakesh Kainthla of the High Court, were present on the occasion.

The Chief Justice and other dignitaries planted saplings, symbolising a collective pledge towards environmental conservation, combating climate change and protecting the green wealth of the state.

Justice Vivek Singh Thakur underlined that such drives are not symbolic but are intended to instill environmental consciousness among citizens, particularly the younger generation.

Anup Rattan, Advocate General, Lovneesh Kanwar, Chairman, Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh and Bunesh Pal, president, District Bar Association, were also present on the occasion.