Jharkhand HC Raps Govt For Delay in Lockdown Tree Felling Probe

Ranchi (IANS): The Jharkhand High Court expressed strong displeasure on Monday regarding the sluggish pace of an investigation into large-scale illegal tree felling during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.

A Division Bench headed by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad directed the state government to submit an updated status report within two weeks, warning that the years-long delay could amount to contempt of court.

Involvement of Forest Officials

During the proceedings, the state government admitted that the probe had uncovered the involvement of several Forest Department personnel, including range forest officers, rangers, and forest guards. The government updated the Bench on current legal actions:

• Charge sheets filed against two forest officials.
• Arrest warrant issued against another accused individual.

Despite these updates, the Court criticized the government for allowing the case to languish for years. In compliance with a previous court order, the Additional Director General (ADG) of CID and the investigating DSP appeared in person to explain the stagnation.

Court Dismisses “Missing Documents” Excuse

The Bench previously dismissed responses from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Director General of Police (DGP) as unsatisfactory. The Court firmly stated that authorities cannot merely cite the “non-availability of documents” to justify a six-year delay, especially when the CID received specific directives for a prompt investigation.

The government argued that the involvement of its own forest personnel complicated and delayed the probe, a justification the Court viewed with serious concern.

The 2020 Lockdown Loot

The original petition alleges a massive environmental crime during the peak of the 2020 lockdown:

• Scope: Hundreds of trees were illegally felled across Jamtara, Palamu, Chaibasa, and Ranchi.
• Logistics: Smugglers reportedly used more than 200 trucks to transport the timber out of Jharkhand.

While local police stations initially registered FIRs, the CID took over the investigation to uncover the full extent of the syndicate. The High Court will revisit the matter in two weeks following the submission of the state’s status report.