The Madhya Pradesh High Court has, in an interim order, restrained the State Government from cutting or replanting trees on a nursery land in Mandla district that has been earmarked for construction of administrative buildings, including a new Joint District Office and the office of the Superintendent of Police.

The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Mandla District Collector’s October 1, 2024 order, which transferred 293,588 square feet of land—home to a nursery established in 1981 with approximately 10,000 fruit-bearing trees—for construction purposes.

Issuing notice in the matter, the bench directed:
"In the meantime, it is directed that no tree shall be cut or re-transplanted without the leave of this Court."

Advocate DK Tiwari, appearing for petitioner Abdul Gaffar Quareshi, submitted that the nursery was shifted to Village Gazipur—15 km away—in exchange for the land, even though the original site had nearly 10,000 trees, some aged between 20 to 30 years, grown under a government scheme. He argued that relocating or cutting such a large number of trees would cause irreversible environmental damage.

In response, Additional Advocate General Nilesh Yadav, representing the State, contended that only 18 trees would be affected by the proposed construction—not 10,000 as claimed—and sought time to place on record the site plan and construction layout.

The plea seeks to set aside the Collector’s order and has also requested a stay on its implementation in the meantime.

The matter is scheduled to be heard next on July 14.

Case Title: Abdul Gaffar Quareshi v. State of Madhya Pradesh (WP No. 19722 of 2025)
Petitioner’s Counsel: Advocate DK Tiwari
State Counsel: AAG Nilesh Yadav