New Delhi/Shimla, Dec. 17 -- In a major relief to lakhs of apple growers in Himachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court today set aside a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that had directed the removal of fruit-bearing apple orchards from encroached forest land, holding that the decision carried serious social, economic and environmental consequences.
A Bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, observed that the High Court erred in issuing directions that would inevitably result in large-scale felling of fruit-bearing trees, particularly affecting marginalised sections and landless families dependent on horticulture for survival.
"The order had very drastic consequences, especially for marginalised sections of societ...