The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a halt to all construction and development activities in 16 villages near Chandigarh. The court also banned any further transfer or sale of land in these areas. This decision comes after the court expressed serious concern over the Punjab government's failure to follow a 2014 Supreme Court order.
The Supreme Court had directed the identification of forest land in the ecologically fragile Shivalik foothills near Chandigarh. The High Court noted that the state had not complied with these directions.
Court Orders Immediate Stop to Construction and Land Deals
According to The Tribune, the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor directed that no further mutation entries would be made for six weeks or until the completion of the exercise. The court also ordered the Punjab Chief Secretary to form a team to determine the extent of forest land as it existed on the date the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 came into force.
The court's order restrains all construction and development activities in the 16 villages. It also prohibits any further transfer or alienation of land there.
Allegations of Collusion Between State and Violators
The court was told that the State of Punjab was colluding with violators of the law. According to Bar and Bench, it was alleged that many senior officers had secured prime farmland in these areas. This raised serious questions about the state's commitment to protecting the environment.
The High Court's intervention is a significant step to protect the ecologically sensitive Shivalik foothills. The area is known for its fragile ecosystem and is crucial for the region's environmental balance.
Our Take: A Necessary Step to Protect the Environment
In our view, this is a strong and necessary move by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The failure of the Punjab government to comply with a Supreme Court order from 2014 is unacceptable. The Shivalik foothills are an ecologically sensitive zone, and unchecked construction could cause long-term damage to the environment.
The allegations that senior officers may have secured land in these areas are deeply troubling. If true, it shows a clear conflict of interest and a failure of governance. The court's order to form a team to determine the extent of forest land is a practical step. It will help establish the facts on the ground and ensure that the law is followed.
This ruling sends a clear message: environmental laws cannot be ignored, and the courts will step in when the state fails to act. For residents and developers in these 16 villages, this means a complete stop to any new construction or land deals until the matter is resolved. The focus must now be on proper identification of forest land and strict enforcement of conservation laws.