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‘Human lives are important, so is environment’: Punjab and Haryana High Court sets up panel to examine felling of 251-tree felling plan for Mohali roundabouts

The High Court, while hearing an application filed by GMADA, declined to revoke its blanket ban on tree felling in Punjab despite repeated pleas by the state government.

4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Jan 23, 2026 02:13 PM IST

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday set up a commission to study the trees proposed to be cut for the construction of roundabouts in Mohali, (File picture)

Chandigarh, January 23

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday set up a commission to study the trees proposed to be cut for the construction of roundabouts in Mohali, even as it declined to revoke its blanket ban on tree felling in Punjab despite repeated pleas by the state government.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing an application filed by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), which is seeking permission to cut 251 trees for building three roundabouts on the PR 7 Road at accident-prone junctions in SAS Nagar.

The commission will comprise nominees of the Punjab Advocate General, GMADA, the Forest Department, and counsel appearing in the matter. It has been directed to inspect the stretch within four days and submit a detailed report to the court next week.

GMADA submitted that the roundabouts were being planned to address severe traffic congestion and frequent fatal accidents on the stretch, which it described as an accident blackspot. Its counsel submitted that all statutory permissions had already been obtained and that compensatory afforestation, five times the number of trees felled, had been approved under the Punjab Tree Preservation Policy, 2024.

The bench, however, expressed concern over the cutting of mature and heritage species such as peepal, banyan, and neem, and questioned whether alternative alignments had been seriously explored. At one point, Chief Justice Nagu asked GMADA’s counsel, “Do you want your children and grandchildren to survive or not?” as he stressed the long-term consequences of indiscriminate tree felling.

The court noted that while human lives lost in road accidents were a serious concern, environmental degradation could not be treated lightly. “Human lives are important, but so is the environment,” the Chief Justice observed, adding that the court had to strike a balance between development and ecological preservation.

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The court-appointed commission has been asked to submit maps and a bird’s-eye view showing the exact location of each tree proposed to be cut, clearly distinguishing between heritage and non-heritage trees, and to assess whether the cutting of such trees is unavoidable for traffic safety.

The court made it clear that the blanket ban imposed on December 24, 2025, would continue until the commission’s report is examined.

During the hearing, Punjab Advocate General M S Bedi repeatedly urged the court to relax the ban, citing cases where projects had received all legal approvals and arguing that development work was being paralysed. He submitted that Punjab is largely an agrarian state with limited forest cover and that the policy already provides safeguards through compensatory plantation and monitoring.

The Bench, however, said that the existence of permissions alone was not sufficient and that environmental impact, particularly the loss of old trees in urban areas, had to be independently assessed by the court.

Relief for Kandi area farmers

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The court also addressed concerns relating to farmers in the Kandi belt and other rural areas. It clarified that the blanket ban would not apply to agroforestry on private land, including poplar and eucalyptus plantations raised by farmers as part of their livelihood. The Bench noted that such trees have a short life cycle and are cut under established licensing and transit permit systems.

It further observed that decaying or dangerous trees posing an immediate threat to human life could be removed, but only after due certification by the competent authority.

The matter will now be taken up after the commission submits its report, with the court saying that any decision on permitting tree felling for the Mohali roundabouts will depend on site-specific findings rather than blanket assurances.

Also Read | HC halts all tree felling across Punjab until next hearing on PILs by Mohali residents

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More