IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA COPC No.120 of 2026 Decided on: 31st March, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Lohara Co-operative Cho Reclamation & Soil Conservation Society …..Petitioner Versus Sh. Sushil Rana .....Respondent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioner: Mr. Atharv Sharma, Advocate. For the Respondent: Mr. Rajat Choudhry, Assistant Advocate General. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge Petitioner alleges breach of the directions issued in The Lohara Cooperative Cho Reclamation & Soil Conservation Society Versus State of H.P. & Ors.2. Following directions were issued in the above-referred decision:- “3. Pursuant to the above, learned Assistant Advocate General has placed on record office instructions dated 25.02.2026 from the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Una Forest Division Una, H.P., conveying that Government of Himachal Pradesh has allowed felling of dried Chil Trees due to natural calamities, deceased or insect attack etc. vide 1 Whether reporters of print and electronic media may be allowed to see the order? Yes 2 CWP No.20281 of 2025, decided on 26.02.2026 2 notification dated 25.02.2026. Copy of the said notification has also been appended alongwith the office instructions. Learned Assistant Advocate General, on the basis of aforesaid instructions and appended notification, submits that the concerned Division Forest Officer will issue necessary permission in accordance with law in petitioner’s favour within two weeks i.e. latest by 15.03.2026. 4. Taking note of above submissions, present writ petition to stand disposed of.” 2. Respondent has filed the compliance affidavit. Learned Assistant Advocate General has also placed on record office instructions dated 30.03.2026 and 31.03.2026 from the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Una Forest Division. In terms of the compliance affidavit and the office instructions placed on record, the respondent has now undertaken to carry out demarcation & marking of dried Chil trees due to natural calamities, disease or insect attack etc. by 10.04.2026. Respondent has also undertaken for processing petitioner’s case for felling approval from the competent authority by 20.04.2026. The above assurance has been recorded as under in office instructions dated 31.03.2026:- “2. In this context, it is submitted that the marking/demarcation of dry/fallen Chil trees with respect to Lohara Cooperation Cho Reclamation & Soil Conservation Society for which enumeration orders have been issued on 25.03.2026 will be completed by 10th April, 2026 and further case will be processed as per the order/notification dated 25.02.2026 for the approval from the higher ups and we will try to get 3 approval from the competent authority by 20th April, 2026. Felling permission/orders will be issued accordingly.” 3. Sh. Sunil Kumar, Deputy Ranger, Lohara Block, Bharwain Range, Una Forest Division has attended the hearing of the case in person and has assured that enumeration/marking of the trees will be completed by 10.04.2026 and the case will be processed for getting approval of the competent authority for obtaining felling permission by 20.04.2026. 4. In view of the office instructions now placed on record as also the compliance affidavit filed by the respondent, the present contempt proceedings are closed with direction to the respondent to strictly adhere by the timelines given by him, i.e. processing the case of the petitioner for enumeration/marking by 10.04.2026 and issuance of felling permission/orders by 20.04.2026. Let this be also brought to the notice of all concerned authorities including the competent authority. The timelines indicated in The Lohara Cooperative Cho Reclamation & Soil Conservation Society2 shall stand extended accordingly. Since the timelines for issuance of felling permission/orders have now been extended upto 20.04.2026, the respondent shall allow the petitioner to fell 4 the trees, in case of issuance of felling permission/orders in its favour, by 30.04.2026. Notice issued to the respondent is discharged. Jyotsna Rewal Dua March 31, 2026 Judge Mukesh