MP High Court tough on tree felling ban:Refuses to amend interim order; on Singrauli case asks, ‘Who will answer for oxygen loss?’

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has firmly refused to make any changes to its final order dated November 26, which imposed restrictions on tree felling across the state.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the court made it clear that orders to curb tree cutting have already been passed and must be strictly followed. If violations are found, authorities should proceed under the remedies available in law. A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf observed that permissions for tree felling are being granted only on the basis of approval from the National Green Tribunal (NGT)-appointed expert committee and the concerned Tree Officer. The bench said this existing mechanism cannot be altered. Any party aggrieved by the process may approach the NGT for relief. The court has fixed the next hearing for January 14 and directed the state government to submit a detailed compliance report. Issue of 6 lakh trees in Singrauli raised During the hearing, the issue of the proposed felling of around six lakh trees in the Ghirouli coal block of Singrauli district was also brought before the court. The petition has been filed by Savita Singh, President of Baidhan Janpad Panchayat. Representing the company, counsel submitted that compensation would be paid for every tree cut. “Who will be responsible for the loss of oxygen?” Reacting sharply, the Chief Justice-led bench remarked that while compensation money may go into the government treasury, the crucial question remains—who will be responsible for the loss of oxygen that these trees provide to the people. Court questions government’s translocation claim The state government informed the court that trees cut earlier had been translocated to 9.71 hectares of land in the Chandanpura area of Bhopal. The bench, however, rejected this claim, stating firmly that what has been done cannot be termed translocation. Court had taken suo motu cognisance earlier The matter originated from the cutting of 448 trees on the Bhojpur Road in Raisen district, which prompted the High Court to take suo motu cognisance and register the case as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Subsequently, other cases also surfaced, including: Conditional ban on tree felling across MP Earlier, the High Court had imposed a conditional ban on tree cutting—first in Bhopal on November 20, and later across the entire state on November 26. The court clarified that tree felling would be allowed only with prior approval of the NGT expert committee and the designated Tree Officer. The bench reiterated that environmental protection remains paramount and any dilution of safeguards would not be permitted.