📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Harvinder Chandigarh
Local
Punjab High Court Halts Tree-Felling Law, Saves 251 Mature Trees
✍️ Amar Ujala · Punjab
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 09:16 PM
👁 15
The Punjab High Court on October 31 ordered a stay on a new law that would have allowed tree cutting for a fee, protecting 251 old trees from removal.
On October 31, the Punjab High Court expressed serious concerns over a recently introduced law that permitted the removal of trees upon payment of a fee. The court warned that such a provision could lead to widespread environmental degradation across the state. Consequently, the bench issued an interim order staying the implementation of the law, effectively preventing the felling of 251 mature trees that were slated for removal.
The court's decision underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding Punjab's ecological balance, especially as urban development pressures increase. Legal experts noted that the stay is a precautionary measure until a comprehensive review of the law's environmental impact is completed.
State officials have been asked to submit a detailed response to the court, outlining how the proposed fee‑based system aligns with existing environmental regulations. The government’s reply is expected in the coming weeks, and the final verdict will determine whether the law can be revised or withdrawn entirely.
The court's decision underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding Punjab's ecological balance, especially as urban development pressures increase. Legal experts noted that the stay is a precautionary measure until a comprehensive review of the law's environmental impact is completed.
State officials have been asked to submit a detailed response to the court, outlining how the proposed fee‑based system aligns with existing environmental regulations. The government’s reply is expected in the coming weeks, and the final verdict will determine whether the law can be revised or withdrawn entirely.