NGT impleads Solan MC commissioner, private individuals in HP’s tree felling case
NGT impleads Solan MC commissioner, private individuals in HP’s tree felling case
New Delhi, July 1,
National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday directed the impleadment of the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Solan, Smt. Rajni Singla, and private individual Shri Arun Singla as respondents in a suo motu case relating to alleged illegal tree felling in Himachal Pradesh after it was informed that mandatory compensatory plantation has not yet been carried out.
A Bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, Judicial Member, and Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Expert Member, passed the order while hearing Original Application No. 218/2026, National Green Tribunal on Its Own Motion versus State of Himachal Pradesh & Others.
The Tribunal took on record replies filed by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Solan, and the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (HPPCB). According to the DFO, permissions dated March 15 and September 11, 2025, had been granted by the Tree Officer of the Municipal Corporation, Solan, to Smt. Rajni Singla for felling trees subject to conditions, including compensatory plantation and maintenance of at least 30 trees for every tree felled.
The DFO further informed that a penalty of ₹20,000 each had been imposed on Shri Arun Singla for illegally felling two trees. He was also directed to undertake compensatory plantation and maintain five trees in lieu of each illegally felled tree.
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During the hearing, counsel appearing for the State authorities and the HPPCB submitted that the required compensatory plantation had not been undertaken so far. Taking note of the submissions, the Tribunal observed that the presence of the Municipal Commissioner, Smt. Rajni Singla and Shri Arun Singla was necessary for proper adjudication of the substantial environmental issues involved in the matter.
Accordingly, the NGT impleaded them as Respondents No. 4, 5 and 6. The Registry was directed to amend the memo of parties and issue notices to the newly added respondents, asking them to file their replies within two months.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 1, 2026.
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