HC vacate stays on permitted felling or lopping of trees

Himachal Pradesh High Court  has vacated the stay  of all valid permissions granted for felling or lopping of trees by the appropriate authority.   
The Court, however, directed that no tree and not even a single branch of any tree shall be cut under any circumstances without any authority of law.
The Division Bench comprising the Acting Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed these orders on a petition treated as Public Interest Litigation,  whereby the petitioner has highlighted the issue of illegal felling of healthy green trees within the jurisdiction of M.C.,  in violation of the  statutory provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, H.P. Municipal Corporation Act  and directions passed by the Hon’ble Apex Court, High Court and the National Green Tribunal.  
The petitioner has prayed to quash and set aside the permissions granted for felling of innumerable trees and  to restrain the authorities from furthering the process of illegal felling of green trees and granting permission in future without the leave of the Hon’ble Court, in the garb of dangerous trees, or widening of existing roads.  

The HC  in its earlier order dated May 4, 2021 had stayed all the permissions of felling/lopping of trees, except 
\the permissions granted to the Electricity Department of Himachal Pradesh. The State filed the application for modification of the interim order contending that monsoon season is at its peak and there is possibility of uprooting of dangerous trees, which may cause threat to life and property.  

The Court observed that the interim order on May 4, 2021 is to be read only in respect of the trees which are being cut illegally or without any permission.The Court further observed that  in case the petitioner is aggrieved by any of the permissions that have been granted, He is always at liberty to file an appeal against the said order and  the grant of permissions have been done under the provisions of the relevant statute, after considering the emergent cases by the authority.  Therefore, the interim order needs to be modified.

The Court directed the State not to cut or to undergo lopping of trees in any manner whatsoever until and unless there is a valid permission in law to do so. The Court posted the matter  after two weeks.