HC asked district officials remain present in person before the court on 28 October
A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the Court as Public Interest Litigation on a letter written to the Chief Justice by Ghazala Abdullah.
The petitioner had alleged a large number of Deodar trees are being felled in Mcleodganj in Dharamshala for the purpose of commercial activities and when she approached the ASP, DC, Municipal Council Dharamshala, Forest Department Dharamshala, Panchayat Pradhan, CID on the matter, but no action was taken.
A committee of Revenue, Police, Municipal Councils and forest officials was framed in Dharmshala to probe the allegations of illegal felling of Deodar trees in Dharmshala Municipal area and During the inspection committee has found that a large numbers of trees were felled with and without the permission from the office of Deputy Commissioner Kangra.
In this case court has also appointed Amicus Curie to make verifications and spot visit regarding the illegal felling of trees in Dharmshala.
Today news regarding felling of a green Deodar Tree at Dharmshala was published in The Tribune and the court took serious views on the same. Intimation in this regard was also received in the registry of the High Court through email which were taken on record by the court.
