Supreme Relief: Apple Orchards Saved Amidst Legal Turmoil

The Supreme Court has overturned a high court order to remove apple orchards from encroached forest lands in Himachal Pradesh. The decision, affecting thousands of farmers and their livelihoods, now mandates state government involvement to achieve a balanced approach while preserving environmental integrity.

In a significant legal victory for apple growers in Himachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court has nullified a prior high court ruling that threatened the removal of apple orchards from forest lands deemed encroached. This decision aims to mitigate the harsh socio-economic and ecological consequences that the high court order was set to provoke.

Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ruled that the issue resides in the policy realm and that the high court had overstepped by dictating an order with substantial ramifications. Consequently, the state's government is tasked with proposing a strategy for the Centre, balancing land preservation and economic welfare.

The case, spearheaded by former deputy mayor Tikender Singh Panwar and lawyer Rajiv Rai, emphasized that such drastic environmental measures without thorough assessments could imperil the livelihoods of thousands while elevating risks like landslides. Apple orchards, vital to the state's economy and ecological balance, are now spared from imminent destruction.

(With inputs from agencies.)