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Petition Raises Alarm Over Tree Uprooting Despite Existing Court Ban

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the site in Sector 69 contained 961 mature trees and should be preserved as an urban forest. He alleged that earth-moving machinery had already been deployed, raising fears of imminent uprooting.

Seeking interim relief, the petitioner urged the court to order an immediate status quo to prevent the removal of trees before the next hearing.

To support the claims, photographs showing heavy machinery at the site were submitted. However, the Bench expressed reservations about the evidentiary value of the images, noting uncertainty over when they were taken.

When questioned by the court, the counsel asserted that the photographs were taken on February 18 and formally certified their authenticity.

Chief Justice Nagu noted that the High Court had already imposed a blanket restriction on tree cutting and suggested that the petitioner could rely on the existing protection order.

Existing Court Bans and Previous Petitions Add Weight to Environmental Concerns

The latest PIL assumes significance as the High Court had, in December last year, imposed a comprehensive ban on felling or uprooting trees without prior court permission. The order was issued during a hearing on multiple petitions highlighting large-scale tree cutting for infrastructure projects in Mohali.

One such petition had challenged the alleged removal of mature trees on public non-forest land by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), raising concerns over urban environmental degradation.

With Mohali witnessing rapid urban expansion, the case has brought into focus the growing tension between infrastructure development and environmental conservation. The High Court is now expected to examine whether any violations of its earlier orders have occurred and whether urgent protective measures are required to safeguard the trees.