Now Reading: Madras High Court stays Tamil Nadu law to allow rosewood felling
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Madras High Court stays Tamil Nadu law to allow rosewood felling
The Madras High Court has temporarily stayed a government order accepting recommendations to repeal the Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994. A division bench of justices N Sathish Kumar and K…
The Madras High Court has temporarily stayed a government order accepting recommendations to repeal the Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994. A division bench of justices N Sathish Kumar and K Rajasekar passed the orders on a petition by environmental activist Dr T Murugavel.
The bench said the reasons for recommending repeal defy logic, as the original Act recognises rosewood as a rare species endemic to southern India that can only regenerate naturally. The court directed that no permission shall be granted for felling or removal of rosewood trees on any private land.
The G.O was issued by the Environment, Climate Change and Forests department on June 9, 2025. Senior counsel T Mohan, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the order enables uncontrolled removal of rosewood on patta lands with vested interest. The court also directed collectors to release Rs 5 crore each from district mineral funds for removal of seemai karuvelam trees.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Rosewood is listed as an endangered species under CITES, and the 1994 Act was designed to curb illegal logging that had devastated populations in the Nilgiris and Western Ghats. Patta lands are private holdings where ownership is disputed: lifting the ban entirely could open a loophole for timber smugglers. The court will now examine whether the state's scientific basis for repeal holds up against the Act's own stated reason for protection. Watch for the next hearing, where the government must justify its reversal of a three-decade-old conservation law.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
