Supreme Court To Pronounce On Sept 23 Order In Suo Motu Case Initiated Over Environmental Concerns In Himachal Pradesh

The Supreme Court will pronounce on September 23 its order in the matter where it took suo motu cognizance of environmental concerns in the State of Himachal Pradesh arising on account of unchecked development activities.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta reserved orders in the matter today, after hearing the State's Addl Advocate General and Senior Advocate K Parmeswar (Amicus). Justice Mehta seemed to indicate that the Court is not only concerned about the State of HP, but the entire Himalayan region.

"We will give you a brief order after summarizing everything, so that then you can get specific instructions", Justice Nath said to the State's counsel, who conveyed during the hearing the steps taken by the state and the changes in ecology of the area.

Before parting, Justice Mehta also noted that since the last date of hearing, there had been another cloudburst incident in Bilaspur.

Notably, many states in India, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir were struck this year by heavy rains, cloudbursts and floods. Following these, concerns were raised that the disasters were owed to ecological changes in the areas, where developmental activities, tree-felling and mining were rampant.

On August 28, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan raised alarm and warned that if unregulated development continues in Himachal Pradesh, "the entire State may vanish in thin air from the map of the country". While noting that proper monitoring is required to check the diversion of green tax funds for unrelated purposes, the bench observed that generating revenue at the expense of environmental degradation in ecologically sensitive areas should not be the primary objective of governments.

The bench further issued notice to the State Government, directing it to submit details within 4 weeks of the steps taken to address the deteriorating ecological and environmental conditions prevailing in the region.

Thereafter, the matter came before a bench led by Justice Nath. Today, the State's 165-page report was before the Court, adverting to which the Amicus said that the averments made therein covered various aspects - ranging from tree cover to mining, glaciers, etc. He contended that the canvass being broad, it would not be feasible to deal with all issues at one go. It was also stated that the State's report lacked specifics and only setting up of a Committee to look into the issues was proposed.

Case Title: IN RE: ISSUES RELATING TO ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS PREVAILING IN THE STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH Versus, W.P.(C) No. 758/2025