Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Himachal High Court Halts Forest Land Road Diversion Proposals
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has paused some road projects in fragile forest areas.
This includes proposals for building new roads or covering existing roads with tar.
The court is worried that easier vehicle access brings more tourists to sensitive places.
It also said this can harm the environment and lead to more tree cutting.
The order was issued on August 17.
Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia led the bench that issued it.
The case began because the court took notice of the issue on its own.
The decision came after the state government discussed 2,183 pending road projects involving forest land.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court ordered an immediate pause on forest-clearance proposals for new roads or road tarring in ecologically fragile areas.
The court said improved motorable access was increasing tourist pressure, environmental degradation and tree felling in those locations.
A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia issued the direction on August 17.
The order followed the court’s suo motu decision to convert the matter into a Public Interest Litigation.
The intervention came after a June 24 state notification concerning 2,183 pending road projects involving forest land.
- Who
- The Himachal Pradesh High Court, led by Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, with Justice Bipin Chander Negi.
- What
- It directed that forest-clearance proposals for new roads or road tarring in ecologically fragile areas be kept in abeyance.
- When
- The direction was issued on August 17; the referenced state notification was issued on June 24.
- Where
- Himachal Pradesh’s ecologically fragile areas involving forest land.
- Why
- The court cited concerns about increased tourist pressure, environmental degradation and tree felling caused by improved motorable access.
- Court
- Himachal Pradesh High Court
- Order date
- August 17
- Bench
- Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi
- Action
- Forest-clearance road proposals were ordered kept in abeyance immediately
- Affected work
- Construction of new roads or tarring of roads to ecologically fragile areas
- Pending projects
- 2,183 road projects involving forest land
- Related notification
- State government notification issued June 24