“No trees standing on the subject land shall be cut or damaged,” the division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Poonacha (file)
The Karnataka High Court has temporarily halted the felling of 371 trees located on an 8.61-acre property at the Cantonment Railway Station colony in Bengaluru in the wake of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the move.
“No trees standing on the subject land shall be cut or damaged,” the division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Poonacha directed the railways and other authorities on Wednesday, while posting the case for February 13, 2026, and issuing notices over the plea.
The interim order was issued following a PIL filed by former MLA A T Ramaswamy and others seeking the preservation of 371 trees at the Cantonment Railway Station colony, located opposite the railway station, after the state government issued a notification on December 6, withdrawing a previous notification of September 10, 2025, which declared the region to be a biodiversity site under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
“The petitioner states that there are a large number of trees standing in the area, which is rich in biodiversity. Notwithstanding the same, steps are being taken to fell the said trees in disregard of the concern for the environment,” the bench noted.
Additional Solicitor General of India K Arvind Kamath, who appeared for the railways, argued that no action had been taken to fell any trees and that an application is being made to the Tree Experts Committee, and only after permission is granted will further steps be taken.
Apart from the railways and the state government, the PIL has named the Karnataka Biodiversity Board, the Tree Officer, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, and Bagmane Texworth Pvt Ltd as the respondents. The high court has directed the respondents to file objections to the PIL.
Curated by James Chen
