Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source internet
Shimla/New Delhi, Aug 1,
The Supreme Court dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Pristine Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd., which sought to quash a Himachal Pradesh government notification declaring Shri Tara Mata Hill in Shimla as a designated green area. The court upheld the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s earlier decision, which had rejected the petition on the grounds that the private company had no enforceable land rights in the area.
A Division Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan passed 17 page verdict on July 28 also used the occasion to express grave concern over Himachal Pradesh’s worsening ecological crisis.
The court took suo motu cognizance of the widespread destruction caused by the 2023 and 2025 monsoon disasters and converted the matter into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), issuing notices to the State of Himachal Pradesh and the Union of India.
In a strongly worded observation, the Bench said: “It is high time the State of HP pays attention to what we have observed and starts taking necessary action… The Union of India also owes an obligation to ensure the ecological imbalance does not worsen. Of course, much damage has already been caused, but something is better than nothing.”
The court criticized the State’s development model, which it said prioritizes revenue generation at the cost of environmental sustainability. “We want to impress upon the State Government and Union of India respectively that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue could not be earned at the cost of environment and ecology,” the order noted.
“If things proceed the way they are as on date, then the day is not far when the entire State of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country. God forbid, this doesn’t happen.”
The Bench highlighted the unchecked expansion of hydropower projects, illegal mining, deforestation, and haphazard tourism infrastructure, all of which have weakened the Himalayan ecosystem. The order noted that despite the imposition of green taxes and legislation to protect the environment, enforcement has been lacking and revenue collected is not necessarily being used for ecological restoration.
The Registry has been directed to convert the matter into a writ petition in public interest, and notices have been issued to the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh and the Principal Secretary of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The matter is listed for further hearing on August 25, 2025.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
