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Dehradun: The Uttarakhand High Court has taken serious note of a petition highlighting the disappearance of thousands of forest boundary pillars in the Mussoorie Forest Division. On Wednesday, a division bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Subash Upadhyay issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Union government, and the state government, seeking their response.
The petition, filed by Naresh Chaudhary and argued by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, claims that 7,375 forest boundary pillars have gone missing. These pillars are crucial markers that define forest land and prevent encroachment. Their disappearance, the petition argues, has opened the door for illegal construction, land grabbing, and ecological destruction in one of India’s most sensitive forest regions.
Result of a nexus between corrupt forest officials
Advocate Bansal told the court that this was not an accident but the result of a nexus between corrupt forest officials, political interests, and land mafias. He said the missing pillars have already led to irreversible forest cover loss, increased landslide risks, and contributed to floods and connectivity disruptions in the region.
State forest department confirm the disappearance of the pillars
Internal reports of the state forest department confirm the disappearance of the pillars, with most missing from the commercially valuable Mussoorie and Raipur ranges. Despite these findings, the petition alleges that the state authorities failed to act. Instead of ordering a high-level probe, they initiated a superficial re-investigation by a junior officer, which the petitioner claims was an attempt to shield powerful culprits.
HC asked the CBI to consider investigating the matter as a criminal conspiracy
The High Court, taking note of the seriousness of the allegations, has asked the CBI to consider investigating the matter as a criminal conspiracy. Notices have also been sent to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Uttarakhand Forest Department. The court observed that the disappearance of boundary pillars is a very serious issue and both Centre and State must respond.
The petition seeks comprehensive relief, including:
Time-bound re-demarcation and digitization of all forest land.
Transfer of forest land from Revenue Department to Forest Department control.
Formulation of an ecological restoration plan to repair the damage.
What is the whole matter?
The issue first came to light earlier this year when senior forest officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, then Chief Conservator of Forests (Working Plan), wrote multiple letters to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. In his communications dated June 21 and August 20, Chaturvedi reported that 7,375 pillars—nearly 60% of the total 12,321 pillars in the division—were missing. He described the disappearance as “extremely unusual” and warned that it had tarnished the image of the department.
On August 22, Chaturvedi wrote to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, urging urgent corrective measures and investigation. He noted that such activities amounted to a breach of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. However, just days later, on August 25, he was transferred to the Forest Training Academy.
The petition argues that this transfer was part of an effort to suppress the issue. It alleges that the disappearance of boundary pillars is linked to disproportionate assets of territorial forest officers, suggesting large-scale corruption.
Case highlights the fragile state of Uttarakhand’s forests
Environmentalists say the case highlights the fragile state of Uttarakhand’s forests. Boundary pillars are vital for protecting forest land from encroachment. Without them, illegal construction and deforestation can spread unchecked, increasing disaster risks in a region already prone to landslides and floods.
Bring attention to the forest lands in Uttarakhand
The case is expected to bring national attention to the governance of forest lands in Uttarakhand, a state where ecological balance is critical for both environment and tourism. For now, the court has asked the Centre, state, and CBI to respond to the notices. The next hearing will determine whether a full-scale investigation is ordered.
