Forest Fire In Morni Hills | Punjab & Haryana High Court Asks Govt To Submit Details Of Steps Initiated To Control Fire

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today has asked Haryana Government to submit about the status of the active forest fire in Panchkula's Morni Hills and what steps are being taken to control it.

A vacation bench of Justice Archana Puri and Justice Harpreet Kaur Jeewan while issuing notice to Haryana Government, Secretary to Department of Environment, Deputy Commissioner, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Division Forest Officer, asked the State to file "written response with regard to the fire being active at present and the steps initiated by the government to control the fire."

Vaibhav Vats and Uday Pratap Singh, lawyers by profession filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to take appropriate and necessary steps forthwith to contain the forest fire in the Morni Forests, which took place on May 21.

The petitioners submitted that he fire is still active and it is spreading to the nearby places, which in fact, is having a severe consequences on the various aspects of the life of not only the humans, as well as wild life and ecological balance.

It is submitted in the petition that the State authority have violated several legal and policy frameworks, including the National Forest Policy and the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, which mandate the preservation of forest cover and the protection of environmental resources.

 "The Respondents' inaction also contravenes the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which requires effecti ve disaster management plans and protocols. Moreover, the lack of comprehensive afforestation and rehabilitation efforts demonstrates the Respondents' negligence in fulfilling their environmental and legal responsibilities. This negligence extends to the protection of biodiversity and wildlife, as the fire has destroyed habitats and displaced numerous species, contravening national and international conservation principles," the plea added.

The petitioner also sought directions to State authorities to take necessary steps for afforestation of the area which has been affected with the forest fires in the Morni region of the state of Haryana.

The matter is listed for May 11, for further consideration.

Appearance: Petitioners-in-person.

Counsel for the petitioners: advocate Angrej Singh

Click here to read/download the order