HC pulls up HP on ‘selective’ anti-encroachment drive

Directs state to file fresh status report on action taken across the state

- Shailee Dogra

The Himachal Pradesh high court pulled up the state government for “selective” antiencroachment drive to free forest land, and sought fresh status report stating “encroachment from the government land/forest land, including removal of fruit-bearing trees from such land, has to be undertaken PAN Himachal Pradesh and it is not limited only to Rohru and Kotkhai”.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the limited scope of enforcement, the division bench of Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Bipin C Negi, while hearing Public Interest Litigations has directed the state to file a fresh status report indicating latest status with respect to action taken throughout the state of Himachal Pradesh.