Shimla, Aug. 2 -- Himachal Pradesh High Court has sought a fresh compliance report from the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation after it was revealed that timber seized from illegal tree felling was not auctioned as directed but instead dispersed by the violators themselves.
The court observed this during a hearing of CWPIL No. 22 of 2019 (Court on its own motion vs. State of HP & others) on July 30.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma took note of an affidavit filed by the Commissioner, DMC, which confirmed that penalty orders of Rs one lakh and a five-year construction ban had been issued against the violators. However, the court was dissatisfied with the explanation regarding the mishandli...