Ms. Geraldine G. Shabong vs . State Of Meghalaya & Ors on 22 July, 2025

Meghalaya High Court

Ms. Geraldine G. Shabong vs . State Of Meghalaya & Ors on 22 July, 2025

Author: W. Diengdoh

Bench: W. Diengdoh

Serial No.01
Daily List
                                HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA
                                    AT SHILLONG
  PIL No.2/2024
                                                              Date of Order :22.07.2025

  Ms. Geraldine G. Shabong                       Vs.          State of Meghalaya & ors
  Coram:
               Hon'ble Mr. Justice I.P. Mukerji, Chief Justice
               Hon'ble Mr. Justice W. Diengdoh, Judge
  Appearance:
  For the Petitioner                        : Mr. K. Paul, Sr.Adv with
                                              Mr. S. Panthi, Adv
                                              Mr. S. Chanda, Adv
  For the Respondents                       : Mr. N.D. Chullai, AAG with

Mr. E.R. Chyne, GA
F

i) Whether approved for Yes/No
reporting in Law journals etc.:

     ii)   Whether approved for publication          Yes
           in press:

Note: For proper public information and transparency, any media
reporting this judgment is directed to mention the composition of
the bench by name of judges, while reporting this judgment/order.
The scope of this public interest litigation now covers the entire State

of Meghalaya.

By our order dated 24th June, 2025, we had expressed our deep

concern on the allegation made by the petitioner that in the Lawsohtun area

of East Khasi Hills District there was indiscriminate and large-scale felling

of trees to the extent of changing the entire landscape of the area.

Page 1 of 3
We had also perused the report of the State government dated 20 th

June, 2025 filed pursuant to an earlier order of this Court. By that order, a

State Level Committee had been constituted by the Court to supervise the

process of dealing by forest officials, with applications by individuals for

felling or part felling or lopping off branches of trees likely to cause danger

to life or property or both.

While dealing with the report, in our order dated 24th June, 2025, we

had directed the Committee to be more proactive instead of delegating the

work to subordinate Forest Officers. We called for a further report to be

considered today.

Accordingly, a further report dated 18th July, 2025 is filed in Court

today. It is quite an extensive report.

Mr. Paul, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the petitioner

wants to peruse the report in detail. Accordingly, such time is given.

It appears from this report that the large-scale felling of trees in the

Lawsohtun area of East Khasi Hills District was done to facilitate the

construction of the Shillong Peak Ropeway Cable Car Project at Raid

Laban Reserve Forests and Raid Laban Forest by the Tourism department

of the State government upon obtaining appropriate approval for forest

clearance from the Central government. It is also stated in the report that

Page 2 of 3
the Central government has provided compensatory land to the State

government for afforestation. To this Mr. Paul submits that this land is

situated in another district and would serve no purpose in improving the

environment of the said area of East Khasi Hills District.

It also prima facie appears from the report that the Committee has

been considering applications for felling or lopping off branches of trees

with more attention and upon scrutiny of all details.

We make this PIL returnable on 30th July, 2025 for hearing.

In the meantime, the petitioner may file a rejoinder affidavit dealing

with the report.

              (W. Diengdoh)                                (I.P. Mukerji)
                  Judge                                    Chief Justice



Meghalaya
22.07.2025
"Lam DR-PS"




                                                                        Page 3 of 3