The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday allowed the state Government to fell only precariously dangerous trees in Shimla town. For every tree felled, at least four saplings should be planted, it ruled.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Jagdish Bhalla and Justice Deepak Gupta passed these orders while hearing a special petition of the state Government, which sought the High Court’s permission to cut down all those trees rendered dangerous after the last week’s heavy rain, which had triggered landslides and uprooted trees in the town.

Examining the report of a three-member committee formed by the Cabinet on Saturday, the Bench granted only conditional permission for cutting down 60-odd trees on a case-to-case basis, supported by evidence and photographs of the trees viewed dangerous to human lives. The court told Advocate General R K Bawa, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Pankaj Khullar and Conservator of Forests, Shimla, S K Sharma to ensure planting of four new saplings in lieu of each tree felled and strict ban on granting permission for construction at the site where each such tree was. The saplings planted should also be protected, the Bench observed.

The court also told Khullar to have a personal re-look at some of the trees to be felled.The people on whose premises the trees would be felled, should also be informed of the conditions, it noted.

Holding a special sitting on Sunday to consider the Government plea for allowing it to fell the dangerous trees, the HC had asked the Government to provide details of such trees.