SHIMLA, MARCH 15: High Court of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday here directed the Deputy commissioner, Sirmaur at Nahan to maintain status quo and stayed further felling of trees in a case of alleged illegal felling of trees on the forest land at Mauza Shivpuri in Nahan in Sirmaur district.
High Court also issued notices to the Central Government, the Secretary (Town & Country Planning), Secretary (Forest), Divisional Forest Officer, Nahan, Municipal Council Nahan, Deputy Commissioner Sirmaur at Nahan and a private respondent namely Uday Prakash.
The Court further directed that no felling of trees shall be allowed on the forest land at Mauza Shivpuri, Tehsil Nahan, District Sirmaur and directed deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur at Nahan to ensure the compliance of the court order.
High Court’s Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, passed these orders in a petition filed by the Nahan Gaurav Vikas Sanstha of district Sirmaur. The petitioner has alleged that the private respondent namely Uday Prakash is carrying out illegal felling of trees on his forest land. The petitioner has alleged that they have written to various authorities but no action has been taken in the matter.
The petitioner pleaded that they have an intention to save the environment and forest of the Nahan town, more particularly of Mauza Shivpuri. They are aggrieved by the non-action on the part of respondents from stopping the haphazard construction in Shivpuri and have moved to the High Court.
The petitioner has prayed to direct the concerned authorities to restrain the private respondent from carrying out any kind of non-forest activities and any kind of construction activities over the land in question. The petitioner has also prayed to constitute an independent committee to inquire into the matter and to take action against the private respondent and Government officials responsible for violation of Forest Conservation Act and Environment Protection Act.
The matter has been ordered to be listed after four weeks.