KAUSTAV PAUL Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The issue involved in this Public Interest Litigation (PIL) centres around cutting/felling of trees (some of which are of considerable heritage) for the purpose of widening of National Highway 40, which connects Shillong to Dawki (commonly referred to as the Shillong-Dawki road), particularly in the vicinity of the Eastern Air Command.

(2.) While the issue concerns public interest at large, before we proceed to make any observation or pass any final order, a 5(five) member High Powered Committee (HPC) is hereby constituted, which will look into the specific grievances as sought to be highlighted in the instant PIL. A comprehensive report shall be submitted by the HPC on the next date, after conducting a thorough and detailed enquiry with regard to the issue as highlighted and upon inspection of the actual site.

(3.) It will be open to the HPC to suggest before to this Court viable means to resolve the highlighted issue raised in the instant PIL without compromising either with conservation of the trees (some of which are of considerable heritage) and environment on one hand and development/expansion of the road project on the other. The 5(five) member High Powered Committee shall constitute of the following members:-