Punjab and Haryana High Court: In a petition filed by National Environment and Forest Protection Trust, raising a public cause that construction of police station and five acres for police lines, would result into cutting of 150 trees standing thereon, alleged to be about 100 years old, Sheel Nagu, J., stated that we people have suffered enough environmental degradation and therefore, this Court would not like to be a part of any further deterioration.
Thus, the Court directed that if the authorities concerned could construct the police station and police line without cutting/damaging even a single tree out of the 150 trees standing on the spot, then the authorities were free to do so. Further, if the authorities concerned were unable to construct police station and the police line without cutting the above trees, then they were restrained from cutting the trees and were well advised to find out alternate site for construction of police line and police station.
In the present case, pursuant to a resolution dated 09-05-2023 passed by Gram Panchayat Thaska, Sonepat, it was decided to allot two acres of land for construction of police station and five acres for police lines. The authorities were yet to execute the same, but their grievance was that the same would result into cutting of 150 trees standing thereon, alleged to be about 100 years old.
The Court on perusal of the report submitted by the Deputy Conservator of Forest, stated that it was obvious that on the land in question, which was allotted for construction of a police station and police line, about 150 trees which were nearly a century old, were standing. The Court noted that the report further stated that benefit of ‘Haryana Pran Vaayu Devta Pension Scheme’ was being extended in respect of the said trees. However, execution of the said scheme had been put on hold due to a dispute between the parties.
The Court stated that it was obvious that about 150 trees, which were a century old, stood on the land allotted for constructing a police station and a police line. The petitioner had filed certain photographs of the area concerned which inter-alia revealed that there was also a water body next to the above trees. The Court stated that we people have suffered enough environmental degradation and therefore, this Court would not like to be a part of any further deterioration.
Thus, the Court directed that if the authorities concerned could construct the police station and police line without cutting/damaging even a single tree out of the 150 trees standing on the spot, then the authorities were free to do so. Further, if the authorities concerned were unable to construct police station and the police line without cutting the above trees, then they were restrained from cutting the trees and were well advised to find out alternate site for construction of police line and police station. The Court stated that any violation of this order should be viewed seriously and accordingly, disposed of the present petition.
[National Environment and Forest Protection Trust Regd. v. State of Haryana, 2024 SCC OnLine P&H 8285, decided on 24-07-2024]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Petitioner: Harender Singh, Advocate, for Jasbir Mor, Advocate.
For the Respondents: Deepak Balyan, Addl. Advocate General, Haryana; Vishal Nehra, Advocate.