HC asks offender to plant 500 saplings

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday ordered a gram pradhan to plant at least 500 saplings of deodar on the forest land and look after these for five years.

Pradhan Balbir Thakur has been convicted of contempt of court for his involvement in forest felling,banned by the HC. He was already fined Rs 23,925 by the Forest Department. Justice Rajeev Sharma said the gram pradhan of Mandal had been held guilty of committing contempt of court as he was instrumental in felling of trees for construction of a road in the Sharoli forest area of Shimla.

“However,instead of sentencing or directing him to pay a fine,the interest of justice will suffice if he is directed to plant at least 500 plants of deodar on the land to be provided by the forest department. The nourishment of these plants shall be the responsibility of the respondent under the supervision of the DFO concerned,” the court noted,adding the pradhan would look after the plants for five years.