In a significant move for Bengaluru's green cover, the Karnataka High Court has stepped in to protect a vital urban forest. The court has issued an interim order preventing the cutting or damaging of any trees in an 8.61-acre area adjacent to the Cantonment Railway Station.
Court Order Halts Potential Destruction
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha passed this crucial interim order on Wednesday. The order mandates that no trees can be removed from the site without obtaining prior permission. This decision came during a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by former MLA AT Ramaswamy and three other petitioners.
The bench also issued formal notices to several key authorities, demanding their responses. These include the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Railway Ministry, the Karnataka government, the Karnataka Biodiversity Board, and the KSPCB (Karnataka State Pollution Control Board).
The Heart of the Legal Battle
The petitioners challenged a December 6, 2025, notification issued by the state government. This controversial notification withdrew an earlier one from September 10, which had declared the 8.61-acre green patch a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) under the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
The area is home to 371 trees belonging to 50 different species and is known as a haven for local and migratory birds. The petitioners argued that this decades-old green space is now being eyed for commercial development. They raised alarms about existing plans to cut down the trees without following due process and obtaining the necessary clearances.
Railways' Stance and Future Proceedings
During the court proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Arvind Kamat, representing the Railway Ministry, presented their position. He assured the court that there are currently no plans to cut any trees at the site. Kamat informed the judges that an application has already been made to the Tree Expert Committee for assessment and that no further steps would be taken until the committee grants its permission.
Recording this submission, the division bench scheduled the next hearing for February 13, 2026. The court directed all the respondents to file their detailed statements of objections by that date. This interim protection will remain in force until the next hearing, providing a temporary reprieve for the green lung in the heart of the city.
This case highlights the ongoing tension between urban development and ecological conservation in rapidly growing cities like Bengaluru. The court's intervention underscores the legal safeguards available to protect notified biodiversity zones and the importance of expert consultation in matters affecting urban forestry.
