SC Expresses Alarm Over Himachal’s Ecological Decline, Initiates Suo Motu Public Interest Plea

In a striking intervention, the Supreme Court on July 28, 2025, expressed deep concern over the ecological deterioration in Himachal Pradesh and directed its Registry to register a writ petition suo motu in larger public interest to examine the environmental challenges plaguing the State.

Observing that "the day is not far when the entire State of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country," the Court emphasised the urgent need for sustainable development and ecological preservation.

The bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan made these remarks while dismissing a Special Leave Petition which had challenged a Himachal Pradesh High Court order dated July 2, 2025.

The High Court had refused to interfere with a state notification dated June 6, 2025, declaring Shri Tara Mata Hill as a Green Area and thereby restricting private construction in the ecologically sensitive zone.

While affirming the High Court's decision, the Supreme Court pivoted to the broader environmental crisis confronting Himachal Pradesh.

Citing frequent floods, landslides, and infrastructural collapse, the Court noted that the state's aggressive tourism-driven construction, deforestation, and unchecked infrastructure projects had resulted in a “severe ecological imbalance.”

"Nature is definitely annoyed with the activities going on in the State of HP," the Court remarked, holding human actions, not nature, responsible for the cascading disasters.

The Court underscored that despite Himachal Pradesh’s designation as a major hydroelectric power hub, the cumulative impact of unscientific construction, blasting for tunnels, and diversion of rivers has made the terrain highly vulnerable to disasters and climate change.

It noted that even minimum water outflow mandates are often disregarded, causing the Sutlej river to shrink into a rivulet and aquatic life to vanish.

Quoting alarming data and expert reports, the judgment highlighted the visible effects of climate change: rising temperatures, altered snowfall patterns, glacial retreat (notably the Bara Shigri glacier shrinking by 2–2.5 km), and erratic weather events threatening agriculture, water security, and biodiversity.

Further, Court took note of unregulated tourism and inadequate waste management, especially in high-altitude zones, which are worsening the environmental strain. Many hotels and homestays, it said, are being constructed on unstable slopes without proper zoning or environmental clearance.

In light of these observations, Court directed the State of Himachal Pradesh to file a comprehensive action plan addressing the ecological and environmental issues raised in the order.

A copy of the judgment has also been sent to the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh and the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 25, 2025.

"We want to impress upon the State Government and Union of India respectively that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology," the bench said, adding, “God forbid this doesn’t happen.”

Case Title: M/s Pristine Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. vs State of Himachal Pradesh & Anr

Date of Judgment: July 28, 2025

Bench: Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan