'Make tree cutting a non-bailable offence', says LHC

Directs authorities formulate comprehensive tree protection policy, propose legal amendments, submit detailed report

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday expressed serious concern over rampant tree cutting in the province and directed the authorities to formulate a comprehensive tree protection policy, propose legal amendments and submit a detailed report.

Justice Shahid Karim, while hearing identical petitions filed by Haroon Farooq, Azhar Siddique and others regarding failure to control environmental pollution and smog, observed that existing penalties for illegal tree cutting were insufficient.

The judge remarked that as long as bail is easily granted in such cases, the practice would persist, suggesting that offences related to illegal tree cutting should be made non-bailable.

During the proceedings, the court directed the Advocate General Punjab and the Prosecutor General to review relevant laws and propose necessary amendments, particularly concerning penalties and the procedure for granting bail in such cases.

Expressing displeasure over the absence of counsel for the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), the court ordered the submission of a comprehensive tree protection and replantation policy.

The bench was informed that 60 trees had recently been cut at the Sheikh Zayed Centre of the University of the Punjab.