High Court gives Haryana deadline till December 31 to notify Morni Hills forest

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has given the Haryana government a clear deadline: finish identifying and notifying the reserved forest area in Morni Hills by December 31, 2025. The court said it was extremely disappointed that this important work has been pending for nearly four decades.

A notification for the Morni Hills reserved forest was first issued back in December 1987, but the process of officially marking (demarcating) the forest land has still not been completed. This long delay was raised in a public interest case filed by Vijay Bansal, a resident of Panchkula, in 2017. He said the land should have been settled as per rules under the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887. The court was hearing this petition.

The Morni Hills area is very important for the environment. It acts as the "lungs" for the Tri-city area of Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali. This green cover plays a vital role in keeping the air clean and maintaining ecological balance. That’s why the High Court has now put serious pressure on the Haryana government to act.

Court issues strong warning

A bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel clearly said that the process of declaring the land as a reserved forest must be completed under the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The court explained that the process starts with a notice under Section 4(1) of the Act and ends when the government issues a final notification under Section 20.

The judges also directed the Forest Secretary of Haryana to make sure everything is completed on time. He has to file a full report on the status of the work by January 2026. If this is not done, the officer responsible and other officials may face punishment under the law.

The court said it was completely unacceptable that the government allowed nearly 40 years to pass without completing the job. The court called this inaction a "failure of governance" and said that such delays show a lack of seriousness in fulfilling duties.

“The Morni Hills are crucial for the environment. But the officers responsible have not done their job properly,” the judges observed. They strongly criticised what they called “official laziness” and an “unwillingness” to take action, even when the matter is of such great public importance.

Demarcation must be done by forest officer

One reason for the delay was confusion between departments. The Haryana government was depending on the revenue department to complete the demarcation of the land. But the High Court made it clear that it is the job of the Forest Settlement Officer (FSO) to carry out the task.

The court said the FSO had already been appointed in 2018, but still, the process had not moved forward. The court has now directed that all maps, papers, and land details needed for the demarcation must be handed over to the FSO. These documents are currently with the forest department, revenue authorities, and the Survey of India.

To help the FSO complete the job, the court ordered that all facilities and support be given to him. This includes help with making land inquiries, taking surveys, marking forest boundaries (demarcation), preparing forest maps, and acquiring land if needed. Once all this is done, the government must issue a final notification and publish it in the official gazette before the deadline.

The High Court underlined that this is not just a paperwork issue. This forest is very important to the health and well-being of people living in the region. The court said the government has a legal and moral responsibility to protect such natural resources. The delay shows a lack of accountability that can no longer be accepted.

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Past and present: a long wait for action

The Morni Hills area was once part of the Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh. But in 1966, it became part of Haryana. The reserved forest notification came two decades later in 1987, but not much happened after that. The 2017 PIL pointed out that no demarcation or formal declaration had been made even after so many years.

The court found this extremely troubling. It said the authorities had failed to act on their own notification and this showed a “complete breakdown of responsibility.” It added that when the state gives a legal commitment through a law or notification, it must follow through. Otherwise, it becomes a mockery of good governance.

The High Court’s order has now put the Haryana government in a tight spot. The task must be finished within seven months. If not, senior officials may face legal consequences.

This case also highlights how important it is for governments to follow up on environmental decisions. Simply making announcements is not enough — action must be taken. The court has used strong words and issued a clear deadline. Now, it is up to the state government to show that it takes this seriously.

The court’s ruling is a strong reminder that delays in environmental matters can no longer be ignored. The Morni Hills reserved forest is an urgent issue for both nature and the people. The December 31 deadline is final — and if the Haryana government fails to act this time, it may have to face serious consequences.