Himachal High Court Directs Pan-State Removal Of Encroachments On Forest Land

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday (16 July) directed the state government to remove all encroachments on forest land across the state, not just in selected areas, reported NDTV.

A division bench comprising Justices Vivek Thakur and Bipin C Negi passed the directive after the Advocate General submitted new instructions from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

According to the report, authorities had already felled 2,456 apple and other fruit trees in Chaithla village and 713 and 490 trees in Rohru and Kotgarh forest divisions, respectively.

However, the court said that there is no reference in the instructions regarding the removal of encroachment and orchards from forest lands in other areas of the state.

The bench said, “It is again clarified that the encroachments from the government/forest lands, including the fruit-bearing trees, has to be undertaken pan Himachal Pradesh and not limited to the areas mentioned in the instructions.”

The court instructed the authorities to file a compliance affidavit with regard to its earlier judgment dated 8 January 2025, which had issued detailed directions.

A fresh status report must also be submitted before the next hearing.

The court’s directive comes amid public concern over the cutting of fruit-laden trees in the apple belt, where orchards have been operating on forest land.

Former chief minister Shanta Kumar criticised the delay in action and said, these orchards have not come up overnight but grew over decades and the authorities concerned are accountable for not taking cognisance of these encroachments.

The issue of forest encroachments has been ongoing for a decade through multiple Public Interest Litigations.

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