Nainital, Jun 5 The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday directed the state government to file a response within two weeks detailing the action taken on a complaint regarding alleged illegal tree felling and the subsequent social boycott of the complainants in a Dehradun village.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Subhash Upadhyay passed the order while hearing a PIL concerning Gram Sabha Tauli in the Vikasnagar area of Dehradun.
The court took a serious view of the matter and questioned the state government about the steps taken after the villagers lodged their complaint on January 20.
The PIL was filed by six villagers of Gram Sabha Tauli. The petitioners alleged that a large number of trees were cut down in their village in January, prompting them to lodge a complaint with Forest Department officials for an inquiry.
According to the petitioners, an investigation by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) subsequently confirmed that 54 trees were felled and 29 others suffered severe damage due to excessive lopping of branches.
The DFO report noted damage to several species, including peepal and mango trees.
The petitioners claimed that despite the inquiry report confirming the damage, no effective action was taken against the culprits.
The PIL further alleged that the six villagers who opposed the green felling were subjected to social ostracism. It stated that a resolution was passed in the Gram Sabha to impose penalties on them and organise a social boycott at the village level.
During the hearing, the bench expressed deep concern over the allegations. It directed the state government to submit a detailed response specifically clarifying the measures taken by the administration and the departments concerned after receiving the initial complaint and the subsequent inquiry report.
