Himachal Appeals to Supreme Court Against Mass Apple Tree Cutting; Singhvi to Advocate for State

As chainsaws echo through Himachal’s apple-growing valleys, the state government has made an urgent appeal to the Supreme Court—pleading for a pause on the widespread felling of fruit-bearing trees that has left thousands of farmers anxious and angry.

The move comes in response to a Himachal Pradesh High Court order mandating the removal of all encroachments on forest land, including long-standing apple orchards. While the court’s intent was to reclaim forest land, the fallout has been severe: thousands of trees have already been cut in Chaithla, Rohru, and Kotgarh, with many more at risk.

Represented by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, the state is expected to argue that the blanket implementation of the order is causing irreversible damage—not just to the environment, but to the lives of small and marginal farmers who depend on these orchards for survival. Many of these plantations, officials say, have existed for decades and are protected under land regularization schemes.

The government’s plea highlights a growing fear: that the ongoing action could spark unrest in apple-growing regions already reeling from erratic weather, poor yields, and rising costs. “We’re not defending illegal encroachments,” a senior official clarified, “but we must protect livelihoods and act with compassion.”

The petition calls for a temporary stay on further tree felling and urges a more balanced approach—one that distinguishes between recent encroachments and historically cultivated orchards. Singhvi is expected to argue for case-by-case assessments and emphasize the disproportionate impact on Himachal’s horticulture-driven economy.

This case could set a powerful precedent for other hill states grappling with similar dilemmas—where communities are caught between the need to protect forests and the right to sustain their way of life. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the matter, the people of Himachal wait, hoping their voices—and their trees—will be heard.