The Madras High Court has stepped in to protect the ecologically fragile forests of Kodaikanal, putting an immediate stop to a controversial government order that led to widespread illegal tree cutting. A division bench issued an interim stay, responding to a plea that exposed the destruction of over 1,200 trees, including precious native shola species, under the guise of removing invasive plants.
Court Intervenes Amidst Ecological Destruction
Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramakrishnan, constituting a division bench, passed the interim order on Thursday. The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by G Theeran Thirumurugan, also known as Thirumurugan, from Ramanathapuram district. The bench has also sought an official response from the concerned authorities while granting the stay on the Government Order (GO).
The petitioner brought to light a severe case of environmental vandalism in the Berijam forest area, a critical biodiversity zone known for its dense shola forests, grasslands, and Berijam Lake. He argued that the GO issued in 2025 was meant strictly for the removal of invasive and exotic species like wattle and eucalyptus to restore native ecosystems. However, forest officials grossly misused this mandate.
Scale of the Illegal Felling
The illegal activity came to light after a forest department inspection on December 10, 2025. Officials discovered that a large number of trees had been felled and sold to timber merchants in the Mannavanur North and Kavunchi beats under the Mannavanur Range. The area falls within the Kodaikanal forest division.
Over 1,200 trees were illegally cut down, including native shola species, in a reserve forest area. Following an inquiry, the forest department placed four of its officials under suspension. The petitioner estimated the financial loss to the government exchequer to be around Rs 50 lakh.
Thirumurugan emphasized that the GO never permitted the felling of native shola species or any trees in such ecologically sensitive zones. He stated that the officials' actions destroyed irreplaceable shola ecosystems, making mere suspension an inadequate punishment for the breach of public trust and ecological damage.
Petitioner's Demands and Next Steps
Frustrated by the lack of action despite his representations, the petitioner approached the High Court with specific demands. He has sought the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to conduct a thorough probe into the entire episode of illegal tree felling. Furthermore, he has requested the court to direct the authorities to initiate stringent action against all officials involved.
The petitioner also highlighted the state's duty to prevent such deforestation and suggested the need for stricter laws. He called for greater public awareness on planting saplings to restore green cover. The hearing in this crucial environmental case has been adjourned to March 5 for further proceedings.
