Shillong, Aug 10: The Meghalaya High Court on Monday disposed of a PIL against tree felling in the city, stating that existing forest laws and rules are adequate to deal with the issue.
The PIL filed by Geraldine G Shabong against tree felling at Lower New Colony, Laitumkhrah in the city has sought a complete halt in the process and formation of an expert committee to assess trees before they are felled.
Earlier, on the matter, the Court directed the state to restore ecology by replanting where illegal felling occurred, and to furnish details of all pending felling applications.
It also ordered a three-member committee to advise the government and scrutinise applications.
That committee direction was later recalled in November 2025 after the state said the matter was already covered under existing Acts, Rules and Supreme Court guidelines. The Court then directed authorities to strictly follow those provisions.
In his submission before the division bench of Justice HS Thangkhiew and Justice W Diengdoh, Advocate General A Kumar said no SLP was pending against the November order.
The petitioner’s counsel sought more time, but the Court said the matter could not be prolonged further and closed the PIL.
“This Court in the face of the facts as illustrated above, finds it extremely difficult to prolong this matter any further, and short of taking any other actions in this regard on the incorrect submissions made, without further lingering the matter, deems it fit to close this PIL, at this stage itself. Accordingly, in the circumstances aforementioned, this PIL stands closed and disposed of,” it stated in the judgment.
