The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday ordered status quo against cutting or felling trees on the National Highway passing through Achuthanvayal to Pattinamkaathan in Ramanathapuram district. A Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and S.S. Sundar ordered status quo in the case and adjourned the hearing.
The public interest litigation petition was filed by Syed Ammal Trust which is involved in planting saplings and their maintenance. The Trust, represented by its president Babu Abdullah, said that when in 2008 there was a threat to fell the trees along the highway, the court had ordered against it. However, it allowed branches to be cut if they hindered traffic flow.
In 2019, a tender was floated for felling the trees under the pretext of improving traffic flow. The trees do not hinder free flow of traffic and there is enough space to widen the road without removing them, the petitioner said and sought a restraint against the move.