Allowed

News Item Titled "India Lost 2.33 Million Hectares of Tree Cover Since 2000 Global Forest Watch" Appearing in the Indian Express Date 13.04.2024. vs

NGT9 May 2025IA No. 144/2025 in Original Application No. 555/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The National Green Tribunal addressed interlocutory applications in environmental cases arising from news reports on tree cover loss. It allowed correction of a respondent's description and directed the impleadment of specific State of Punjab officials as respondents, scheduling further proceedings.

What did the court decide?

Correction of Respondent No. 13's description and impleadment of Respondents No. 41 and 42 (Punjab Forest Officials) allowed.

News Item Titled "India Lost 2.33 Million Hectares… — Public Procurement and Tenders | NGT (2025)

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Item Nos. 02 & 03

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Court No. 2

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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Original Application No. 555/2024 ( I.A No. 207/2025, I.A No. 144/2025 )

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News item titled "India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000 Global Forest Watch" appearing in The Indian Express date 13.04.2024.

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WITH

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Original Application No. 20/2025

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News Item titled "Assam forests shrink by 83.92 sq km in just two years Report" appearing in the Assamtribune.com dated 22.12.2024.

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Date of hearing: 09.05.2025

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR TYAGI, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER

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Original Application No. 555/2024

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Applicants: Suo-moto Application. Respondents: Mr. Raj Kumar, Advocate for respondents no. 1 and 39. Mr. Gautam Kumar, Advocate for respondents no. 2 and 4. Mr. Gi Gi C George, Advocate for respondents no. 3 and 33. Mr. Shubham Bhalla, Advocate for respondents no. 6, 34 and 38. Mr. Rahul Khurana, Advocate for respondent no. 12. Ms. Sanya Kaushal, Advocate for respondent no. 13 with Mr. C B Tahsildar, DCF (Management) Shimla. Mr. Dev Aryan, Advocate for respondent no. 14 (through VC). Mr. Anando Mukherjee Adv Standing Counsel for respondent no. 21 (through VC). Ms. Savi Nagpal, AAG for respondent no. 24 (Applicant in I.A. No. No. 207 of 2025) (through VC). Ms. Prachi Mishra, Advocate for respondent no. 25 (through VC). Mr. Bhanwar Pal Singh Jadon, Mr. Harshwardhan Singh Rajawat, Ms. Anjali Sharma and Ms. Gargi Chaturvedi, Advocates for respondent no. 30. Mr. Adarsh Chamoli, Advocate for respondent no. 31. Ms. Madhumita, Advocate for respondent no. 32. Ms. Sunita Sharma, Advocate for respondent no. 36. Ms. Jyoti Mendiratta, Advocate for respondent no. 37 with Mr. Ankit Kumar, DCF (P & M), DO FW GNCTD. Mr. Gautam Singh, Advocate for respondent no. 40.

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None for respondents no. 5,7,8 to 11, 15 to 20, 22, 23, 26 to 29, 33, 34, 35, 38 and 39.

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Original Application No. 20/2025

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Respondents:

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Mr. Shubham Bhalla, Advocate for respondent no. 2. Mr. Anando Mukherjee Adv Standing Counsel for respondent no. 4 (through VC). Ms. Suhasini Sen and Ms. Masooma Rizvi, Advocates for respondent no. 5. None for respondents no. 1 and 3.

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ORDER

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I.A. No. 144/2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 13 for correction of description of Respondent No. 13 in memo of parties by substitution of State of Himachal Pradesh through the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Armsdale building, H.P Secretariat, Shimla-2 in place of State of Himachal Pradesh Through its Secretary, Department of Environment, Science, Technology & Climate Change, Regional Office, Paryavaran Bhawan, Near US Club, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh as matters related to forests are managed by the former.

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In view of the reasons mentioned above, I.A No. 144/2025 is allowed and description of Respondent No. 13 is ordered to be corrected by substitution of State of Himachal Pradesh through the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Armsdale building, H.P Secretariat, Shimla-2 in place of State of Himachal Pradesh Through its Secretary, Department of Environment, Science, Technology & Climate Change, Regional Office, Paryavaran Bhawan, Near US Club, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh as mentioned above.

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I.A. No. 207/2025 has been filed by respondent no. 24- State of Punjab through Secretary, Department of Science, Technology and Environment for impleading State of Punjab through Secretary, Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab

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and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Department of Forest and Wild Life Preservation in the array of respondents.

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In view of the reasons mentioned therein, I.A No. 207/2025 is allowed and State of Punjab through Secretary, Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Department of Forest and Wild Life Preservation are ordered to be impleaded as Respondents No. 41 and 42.

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The Registry is directed to make appropriate amendment in the memo of parties.

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Learned Counsel for Respondent No. 24 accepted notices on behalf of Respondents No. 41 and 42.

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Affidavit dated 25.02.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 6- PCCF, Arunachal Pradesh.

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Report dated 28.02.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 21Govt. of Mizoram.

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Response affidavit dated 28.02.2025 has been filed by Respondent No.13-PCCF, Shimla, H.P.

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Response affidavit dated 28.02.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 18 -State of Maharashtra.

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Affidavit dated 28.02.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 36Lakshadweep Administration.

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Report dated 03.03.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 16Special Secretary, Environment, Govt. of Kerala.

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Reply dated 28.02.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 37- of Forests (Protection and Monitoring), Department of Forests and Wildlife, Government of NCT of Delhi.

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Report dated 01.03.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 8- PCCF, Env. Deptt., Bihar.

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Response dated 02.04.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 40Govt. of J & K.

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Short factual report dated 01.04.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 25- State of Rajasthan.

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Affidavit dated 28.03.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 9 - Govt. of Chhattisgarh.

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Affidavit dated 02.04.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 14Govt. of Jharkhand.

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Affidavit dated 25.04.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 38U.T. of Puducherry.

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Affidavit dated 25.03.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 10Govt. of Goa.

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Reply dated 08.05.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 12- Govt. of Haryana.

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None has appeared for Respondents No. 5,7,8 to 11, 15 to 20, 22, 23, 26 to 29, 33, 34, 35, 38 and 39.

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The Registry is directed to issue notices again to Respondents No. 5, 7, 8 to 11, 15 to 20, 22, 23, 26 to 29, 33, 34, 35, 38 and 39 requiring them to ensure their appearance and also filing of their response before

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this Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing hereby fixed.

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Replies by newly substituted Respondent No. 13 and newly added Respondents no. 41 and 42 and the Respondents, who have not filed replies so far, be also filed at least one week before the next date of hearing hereby fixed.

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List on 07.08.2025 for further proceedings/orders.

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Arun Kumar Tyagi, JM

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Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM

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May 09^th , 2025 Original Application No. 555/2024 (I.A No. 207/2025, I.A No. 144/2025) With Original Application No. 20/2025 AB

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News Item Titled "India Lost 2.33 Million Hectares of Tree Cover Since 2000 Global Forest Watch" Appearing in the Indian Express Date 13.04.2024. vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

News Item Titled "India Lost 2.33 Million Hectares of Tree Cover Since 2000 Global Forest Watch" Appearing in the Indian Express Date 13.04.2024. vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

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