Shimla6 hours ago
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Taking serious note of the loose departmental action in the matter related to illegal felling of 416 trees in the forest range category, the State High Court has ordered the suspension of Inquiry Officer (IO) Pawan Kumar Chauhan, HPFS Assistant Conservator of Forest DFO Office Shimla Urban with immediate effect. issued.
Expressing displeasure over the non-compliance of its orders in the matter related to illegal felling of 416 trees in the range category and not taking appropriate departmental action in the matter, the court, while issuing a show cause notice to the government, has also asked why not in this case. Appropriate legal action should be taken by the court.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Jyotsna Riwal Dua passed these orders during the hearing of a suo motu PIL for illegal felling of trees and action against the culprits, including higher officials of the forest department. The Court was told by the Advocate General that only the Forest Guard is responsible for illegal logging, which the Court rejected outright.