Supreme Court lifts ban on felling dry Khair trees on private land in Himachal

Shimla (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court clarified that there is no ban on felling dry, fallen, mouldy and decayed khair trees on private land in Himachal Pradesh. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi made the observation on Thursday.

The bench noted that the 1996 ban on felling trees in the state's hilly areas had already been modified by orders dated February 16, 2018, and May 10, 2023, which permitted the felling of khair trees. K. Parameshwara, the amicus curiae appointed in the case, pointed out that the high court had refused to intervene, saying the matter was before the apex court.

The petitioners first sought permission from the District Forest Officer to cut dead trees, but when they were denied permission, they approached the High Court and then the Supreme Court. The bench directed the state government to constitute a committee, in compliance with its May 10, 2023, order, to resolve such felling permission matters.

It is noteworthy that in 2018, the Supreme Court directed that Khair trees be harvested directly by the Forest Department or the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Corporation, and not contracted out to private agencies. It also directed that each area be videographed before, during, and after felling, and that at least 25 percent of mature Khair trees be preserved as "mother trees."