2026:HHC:25730 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA COPC No.   :      476 of 2025 Decided on :        30.06.2026 Amar Singh & Others …Petitioners Versus Sameer Rastogi & Others …Respondents Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioners   : Mr. Sudhir Thakur, Senior Advocate with Mr. Karun Negi, Advocate. For the respondents : Mr.   Tejasvi   Sharma,   Additional Advocate General. Virender Singh, Judge (Oral) The present petition has been filed for initiating the contempt proceedings, under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts   Act,   1971,   for   willful   violation   of   order   dated 27.03.2024, passed in CWP No.4165 of 2023, titled as Amar Singh & Others versus State of Himachal Pradesh & Others. 2. While deciding the above titled writ petition, the following orders have been passed: “Consequently, in view of the detailed discussion made herein  above as well as law taken into consideration,   this   court   finds   merit   in   the present   petition   and   same   is   allowed   with direction to respondent No.5­Tehsildar, Solan, to 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2026:HHC:25730 demarcate the land in terms of request made by respondent No.2 vide communication (Annexure P5), expeditiously, preferably, within two weeks. Needless to say, authority concerned while doing the   needful   shall   afford   an   opportunity   to   be associated   in   the   proceedings   to   all   the stakeholders and thereafter, report be submitted to the  Forest Officials,  enabling  them  to  pass appropriate orders with regard to marking and felling of trees. Present petition is disposed of alongwith pending applications, if any.” 3. When put to notice, reply to the contempt petition has been filed. It is apt for this Court to reproduce paragraphs 4 to 6 of the reply. “4. That thereafter, the petitioners submitted an application   in   the   office   of   Divisional   Forest Officer, Solan for demarcation of suit land and marking   of   khair   trees   through   Private   Sale Contractor Sh. Ankaj Kumar S/o Sh. Prakash Chand Village Shelly, PO Materni, Tehsil Arki Distt. Solan,   HP   dated   28.03.2024. Copy   of application is enclosed herewith as Annexure R­ 1. The Divisional Forest Officer, Solan vide letter No.   8852   dated   30.03.2024   requested   the Tehsildar Solan to demarcate the suit land and Range Forest for marking of khair trees. Copy of letter is enclosed herewith as Annexure R­2. The process   of  demarcation   and  marking  of  khair trees   was   completed   on   14.5.2024   i.e.   after 31.03.2024. 5. That   felling   of   khair   trees   for   sale   from Private land in the State of Himachal Pradesh is regulated in accordance with Order No. FFE­B­ A(3)4/99 dated 10th September, 2002 issued by the   then   Principal   Secretary   (Forests)   to   the 3 2026:HHC:25730 Govt. of HP strictly in accordance with approved 10 years felling programme of the Division in whose jurisdiction the area falls. In the present case   the   suit   land   falls   in   Serighat   Block   of Subathu Forest Range of Solan Forest Division. As per approved 10 years felling programme of the  Solan   Forest  Division,   the  Serighat   Block was   due   for   felling   during   2023­24,   but demarcation and marking of khair trees from the suit land was completed on 14.05.2024 i.e. after close of the prescribed year of felling as per approved 10 years felling programme of Solan Forest Division. 6. That the Hon'ble Apex Court vide order dated   30/10/2009   passed   in   IA   No.   2370   in WP(C)   No.   202/1995   T.N.   Godaverman Thirumalkpad Vs Union of India & Others has restrained   to   deviate   from   Ten   Year   Felling Programme fixed by the Forest Department in accordance   with   the   provisions   of   the   Land Preservation Act, 1978. Besides this the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh vide letter No. FFE­B­F(13)­ 3/2020 dated 30.03.2022 has also directed that till   the   clarification   from   Central   Empowered Committee or order from Hon'ble Apex Court is received, the cases for granting permission for demarcation of land and marking of trees under Para 8 of the order dated 10 th September, 2002 may   not   be   processed. (copy   of   order   dated 30/10/2009 is enclosed as Annexure R­3, letter dated 30.03.2022 is annexed as Annexure R ­4).” 4. In view of the said fact, at this stage, no further action is required to be taken and the petition is accordingly disposed of.  Notice discharged. 4 2026:HHC:25730 5. The   petitioners   are   at   liberty   to   approach   the competent Court of law, in case, their grievances still remain to be redressed. ( Virender Singh ) June 30, 2026( ps ) Judge