The Supreme Court on Thursday took serious note of the widespread landslides and floods in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and other northern states, observing that illegal felling of trees appears to be a major contributing factor.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, along with Justice K. Vinod Chandran, said media reports clearly indicate that large quantities of wood were seen flowing with the floodwaters, pointing to unchecked deforestation.
“We have seen unprecedented landslides and floods in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. Prima facie it appears that there has been illegal felling of trees,” the bench remarked.
SC Issues Notice to Centre, States
The apex court has issued notices to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the state governments of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab. The court directed the Solicitor General to ensure remedial measures are in place before the next hearing, scheduled in two weeks.
The order came in response to a petition filed by Anamika Rana, who alleged that rampant tree cutting and ecological negligence were directly linked to the increasing frequency of natural disasters in the Himalayan states.
What the Petition Says
The plea under Article 32 of the Constitution seeks the Supreme Court’s intervention to:
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Formulate guidelines or appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the causes of such disasters.
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Fix accountability of officials for negligence in protecting fragile Himalayan ecology.
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Suggest long-term measures to safeguard the environment and uphold citizens’ rights under Articles 14 and 21.
The petitioner highlighted that despite the existence of dedicated disaster management authorities, both the Centre and state governments lack effective plans to prevent or mitigate damages. Issues such as encroachment on water bodies, violations of the Hill Road Manual (1998), and reckless dumping of muck and debris during road construction were flagged as key drivers of ecological damage.
Key Concerns Raised
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Fatal Landslides in 2025: Within just a week of this year’s monsoon, several districts across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and J&K witnessed deadly landslides and flash floods.
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Unregulated Tourism: Authorities have failed to regulate the number of tourists, vehicles, and inter-district movement in disaster-prone areas, leaving thousands vulnerable.
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Negligence in Road Construction: Agencies like the PWD and NHAI were accused of blatantly ignoring vital safety and ecological guidelines during hill road and highway projects.
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Violation of Environmental Laws: Activities such as riverbed encroachment, muck dumping, and hill slope cutting violate the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The plea stressed that the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has failed to enforce its mandate under existing laws to protect the Himalayan ecosystem. Unless urgent steps are taken, the petitioner warned, the cycle of floods, landslides, and loss of lives will continue to worsen.
