MP HC Seeks Personal Appearance of Top Officials Over Alleged Illegal Felling of 244 Trees in Bhopal

In a significant environmental intervention, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday came down strongly on the State authorities after reports emerged of large-scale cutting of trees in Bhopal allegedly under the guise of “transplantation.”

The Court remarked that despite its earlier categorical directions, the authorities appeared “not interested in protecting or transplanting any tree” and were instead engaging in rampant destruction of vegetation obstructing proposed development projects.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf was hearing a petition concerning unauthorized tree felling in the state capital. In two succinct but severe observations at the outset, the Court noted that the communications and photographs placed on record reflected a disturbing trend: trees were being stripped of branches and leaves and replanted merely as trunks, raising doubts about whether any genuine transplantation effort was being undertaken.

The Court also took note of a report published in Dainik Bhaskar dated 20.11.2025, which stated that 244 trees were being illegally cut for construction of residential quarters for Members of the Legislative Assembly in Bhopal.

Counsel for the Intervener, Advocate Harpreet Singh Gupta, assisted by Manan Agrawal, Shubham Mishra, Nancy Chaturvedi and P.S. Gupta, submitted that the report indicated a “novel method” adopted by officials, shifting trees without seeking formal permission for cutting, thereby bypassing statutory safeguards.

The Court observed that earlier, by an order dated 4.11.2025, it had directed the State to file an affidavit clarifying whether any Tree Plantation Policy existed. The State, in response, informed the Court that no such policy was in force. This disclosure, coupled with photographic evidence placed before the Bench, painted a grim picture.

The images, the Court said, showed complete stripping of trees before their so-called transplantation, defeating the very purpose of conservation.

Further concern arose from a communication dated 30.10.2025 from the Executive Engineer, Vidhan Sabha Building Controller, addressed to the Principal Secretary, Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.

The letter stated that several trees were obstructing the construction of the new residential complex and “had to be shifted (uprooted).” It also recorded that “a large number of branches are being cut and huge quantity of wood is being collected,” with a request to utilize this wood.

According to the Court, this letter itself demonstrated that the authorities were not attempting to preserve or relocate the trees intact, but were permitting widespread cutting.

The Bench further referenced another Dainik Bhaskar news article dated 17.11.2025, which reported that nearly 8,000 trees had been cut for a railway project, adding to the Court’s concern over systemic environmental disregard.

Taking serious note of these developments, the Court issued sweeping directions. First, it ordered that no tree in the entire area of Bhopal shall be cut, pruned, or transplanted in any manner without leave of the Court.

This city-wide restriction is likely to have immediate implications for ongoing government and private projects.

Second, and more unusually, the Court summoned for personal appearance a long list of senior officers for the next hearing on 26.11.2025 at 12:30 p.m. These include: Ajay Shrivastava, Executive Engineer, PWD, Under Secretary, Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Administrative Officer-cum-Under Secretary, Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Bhopal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Principal Secretary, Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Bhopal, General Manager, West Central Railways.

The Court also directed the respondents to place on record photographs of the allegedly transplanted trees on the next date.

During the hearing, Amicus Curiae Shri Amalpushp Shroti emphasized that the High Court had earlier barred any cutting or pruning of trees without permission from the nine-member Committee or the Tree Officer under the Madhya Pradesh Protection of Trees (Urban) Act, 2001, yet the present violations appeared flagrant.

The State was represented by Deputy Advocate General Swapnil Ganguly and Government Advocate Ritwik Parashar, while Deputy Solicitor General Suyash Mohan Guru appeared for the Union of India through the Archaeological Survey of India.

Case Title: In Reference v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Others

Date of Judgment: 20.11.2025

Bench: Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf