Himachal Pradesh High Court Takes Strict Stand on Forest Land Encroachment, Orders Action Against Negligent Officials
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken a tough stance in a case involving encroachment on government forest land in the Ratanari area of Kotkhai Tehsil, Shimla district. A division bench led by Justices Vivek Singh Thakur and Bipin Chandra Negi has instructed the state government to submit an affidavit within two weeks.
The court emphasized that not only will action be taken against the encroachers, but also against government officials who failed to report or act on the encroachment. The Additional Advocate General has been instructed to submit details of all such officials who were posted at the time but neither informed their superiors nor initiated any action.
Instructions received from the Forest Officer of Theog and the Deputy Commissioner of Shimla have already been submitted in court. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for September 16.
The court took suo moto cognizance of the matter based on a letter sent by R.L. Chauhan to the Chief Justice, in which he raised concerns about encroachment on government land. The letter was accompanied by relevant documents and photographs.
In response, the court registered the matter as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and made the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, Secretary Revenue, Secretary Forest, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Divisional Forest Officer (Kotkhai), and Patwari of Bagi Ratanari as respondents in the case.
This development clearly indicates that strict action is imminent not only against encroachers but also against officials who were negligent in discharging their duties.
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