Shillong, Apr 9: The High Court of Meghalaya wanted the chief secretary to constitute a committee to advise the state government on issues related to felling of trees.
The bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh in the order passed on Wednesday after hearing a PIL said, “The Chief Secretary of the State will constitute a Committee of three officials in which the Chief Conservator of Forests should be the first, an expert in Botany whether in government service or private service should be the second and a senior administrative officer not below the rank of secretary the third, who shall:
(a) Advise the government with regard to the steps to be taken to stop indiscriminate felling of trees throughout the state. The government will act in accordance with such advice.
(b) Scrutinize the report filed before the court which include the applications to permit felling along with the report of the local forest officers, make their independent enquiry and issue necessary directions to the Forest department to fell the trees or to refrain from doing so or to take any measures for their preservation.”
The committee will take District by District and deal with the applications for felling of the trees in those districts in accordance with law passing suitable directions binding on the respondents and the local forest officials.”
