Supreme Court Halts Felling of Apple Trees on Encroached Forest Land in Himachal
Shimla, July 28
The Supreme Court has put a temporary stay on the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order directing the removal of apple trees from encroached forest land. The order came in response to a petition filed by former Deputy Mayor of Shimla, Tikender Singh Panwar. The case was argued by Supreme Court advocate Subhash Chandran, and the development was shared by former Mayor Sanjay Chauhan.
In its interim order, the Supreme Court directed the state government to acquire the apple trees growing on encroached forest land and take control of the harvested produce.
Tikender Singh Panwar had challenged the High Court’s July 2 directive to the Forest Department, which ordered the removal of apple trees from encroached land and replanting with forest species, along with recovering the cost from encroachers.
The petition argued that the High Court’s order was arbitrary, inconsistent, and contrary to constitutional and environmental principles. It stated that Himachal Pradesh is a seismically active and ecologically sensitive state, and large-scale tree felling during the monsoon could significantly increase the risks of landslides and soil erosion—endangering not only the state’s ecology but also the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.
The plea further emphasized that apple orchards are not merely symbols of encroachment, but also serve to stabilize soil, provide shelter to local wildlife, and play a crucial role in strengthening the state’s economy.
According to reports received up to July 18, over 3,800 apple trees have already been cut in the Chauthla, Kotkhai, and Rohru regions, while a total of around 50,000 trees are reportedly slated for removal across the state.
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