Expressing serious displeasure over the mounting ecological crisis in Himachal Pradesh, the Support Court has issued notice to both the state government and the Central government, demanded urgent action from them.
The Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan observed that if the current state of affairs continued, then the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may ‘vanish’ in thin air from the map of the country.
The Apex Court warned both the Union government and the state that pursuit of economic gain could not come at the expense of environmental stability of the region.
Noting that earning revenue was not everything, the Bench directed the state government to file a comprehensive action plan and affidavit addressing environmental collapse. It further sought response from the Union Environment Ministry on the matter.
The top court of the country listed the matter for August 25, to review the governments’ responses and proposed measures.
The order was passed on a petition filed by a hotel and resort company, challenging the Himachal Pradesh’s June 2025 notification declaring the area of Shri Tara Mata Hill a ‘Green Area’ under the state’s Town and Country Planning Act. The notification prohibited new private construction (except limited alterations) in the newly-declared Green Area.
The petitioner earlier approached the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which dismissed it’s plea on the grounds that since the company was yet to acquire land or obtain statutory permissions, it was not an aggrieved person. The company then moved the Apex Court, which also dismissed its petition.
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