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Chandigarh lawyer lodges complaint against illegal felling of trees from Govt School, Samana village
Chandigarh, June 16, 2021: Advocate H.C Arora, Chandigarh-based lawyer has filed a complaint against illegal felling of trees from Government High School of Todarpur village, Samana Tehsil of Patiala district.
On Wednesday morning, Advocate H.C. Arora has sent a complaint via e-mail to Chief Secretary, Punjab, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests; and Secretary, School Education, Punjab, seeking strict action against Principal of Government High School, Todarpur, Samana.
In his complaint, Arora alleged that the Principal of the government school has sold the trees.
“Smt. Dharminder Kaur, Principal, Government High School, Todarpur (Samana) (District-Patiala ) has sold out more than 30 dek trees (Chinaberry), and a couple of poplar trees, for an amount of Rs.45,000/-. All trees were standing on the ground of the school and were fully grown. The trees were grown and nourished by the people of the village. No permission has been got from the Forest department (as trees were standing on Government land), nor from any higher authorities of the education department, nor any consent was sought/obtained from Gram Panchayat," wrote Advocate H.C Arora in its complaint.
"The Principal appears to be unaware of her social obligations as a citizen towards the environment as envisaged under Article 51-A of Constitution of India, what to speak of her responsibilities as a responsible officer of the Government. She has lost all moral authority to inspire or motivate students to grow more and more trees, on account of her conduct to the contrary. She deserves strict disciplinary action for her aforesaid criminal and irresponsible conduct. She also deserves to be strictly told not to remove any other tree from the school premises, without permission from the Forest Department," he added.
Arora said that incase the Punjab government fails to take any action on the matter, he will be left with no option but to approach National Green Tribunal on the matter.
Advocate Arora has further stated in his complaint that “In case I do not hear from you within a week, in that event, I shall be left with no other alternative except to file appropriate proceedings in the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal.”
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