Supreme Court Halts Apple Tree Felling in Himachal Pradesh: A Lifeline for Farmers Amid Protests
Background: High Court Order Triggers Panic During Peak Apple Harvest On July 2, 2025 , the Himachal Pradesh High Court issued a directive ordering the removal of apple trees planted on encroached forest and government lands across the state, especially in Shimla district . This order, implemented during the peak apple harvesting season, triggered widespread distress among apple farmers and orchard owners. Petition Filed: Apex Court Grants Interim Relief The Supreme Court of India has now granted an interim stay on the felling of apple trees, responding to a petition filed by Tikender Singh Panwar , an environmentalist and former Deputy Mayor of Shimla. Panwar argued that the ongoing removal of fruit-bearing trees was “unscientific, anti-farmer, inhumane, and environmentally disastrous.” Farmer organizations across Himachal welcomed the stay as partial relief and are now intensifying their protests to ensure broader protection for farmers' livelihoods. Farmers' Voice...