The Rajasthan High Court has imposed an interim stay on the felling of trees on land allotted for a solar energy project in Baiya village of Jaisalmer district. The order was passed on Friday after the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), in which the petitioners claimed that the site in question was part of sacred oran land – biodiverse patches traditionally protected by rural communities.
PIL Filed in 2025
The PIL, filed in 2025, names eleven respondents, including the state government, the forest department, and the private company Adani Solar. Citing the seriousness of the matter, a division bench comprising Justice Pushpendrasingh Bhati and Justice Sandeep Shah directed that status quo be maintained on the plot of land in question.
Petitioners' Arguments
Petitioners Mukundsingh Bhati and Jujhar Singh told the court that the disputed oran land – Khasra no. 386, spread over 2,587 bighas – has been associated with the Rohidalray temple since ancient times. They submitted revenue records and photographs they claim indicate a biodiverse patch of land teeming with dense grass and more than 6,000 khejdi, jaal, ber, rohida, dhaman, and other trees. The petitioners argued that even if land records pertaining to the plot had changed over time, it remained the state's responsibility to clarify its status. They also referred to Jamabandi entries (official record of rights for land parcels) for years 2030 to 2034 in the traditional Hindu calendar.
State Government's Response
The state government opposed the plea, stating the area in question was not recorded as oran land in current revenue records. It told the court that the site has 3,489 large and 3,093 small trees, but is not officially classified as oran land.
Adani Solar's Stance
Appearing for Adani Solar Energy Barmer One Private Ltd, senior advocate Sachin Acharya said solar energy is a clean source of power and important for meeting India's renewable energy targets. He said the company would comply with allotment conditions and compensate any loss through plantation, adding that it remained committed to afforestation and environmental safeguards.
Court's Decision
The High Court said it would be guided by previous Supreme Court directions in similar matters and stressed that Rajasthan's oran lands and sacred groves are invaluable, both culturally and ecologically. Noting that such a large number of trees in a desert region is unusual, the court referred the dispute to a high-level expert committee to verify the ground reality of Khasra No. 386. The committee, constituted in April 2025, is chaired by a retired Rajasthan High Court judge and includes a retired chief conservator of forests, a senior officer from the Union environment ministry, and officials of the state forest and revenue departments. The court directed the committee to submit its report by May 20, until which time no trees on the disputed land can be felled.
