The Gauhati High Court at Aizawl recently issued notice on a PIL against felling of 100 years old trees in the vacated Assam Rifle's land in the city.

The division bench comprising Justice Michael Zothankhuma and Justice Kaushik Goswami also directed that the State to ensure that no more trees are cut in the area, until further orders.

The PIL has been filed by environmental activist Saizampuii Sailo in the backdrop of proposed widening of the main road of Aizawl, specifically from Bazar Bungkawn to Treasury Square, due to which a number of old and big trees have been cut.

It was submitted that the trees in question act as a "carbon sink" for the city which is otherwise a concrete jungle and instead of safeguarding the trees, the Government has proposed to cut them down.

The High Court also took note of newspaper articles as per which more than 400 trees have been identified in the vacated Assam Rifles' land, out of which approximately 174 trees have been identified for cutting.

"These trees are around 100 years old and in fact, the tree that has been shown in the Aizawl Post dated 16.04.2026 had apparently been planted in the year 1850,” the Court noted.

It further noted that the vacated Assam Rifles' land also has a barrack area, which had apparently been constructed in 1897 and it is a heritage site.

Thus, the Court was of the opinion that the State must explain the felling of such old trees that too at a purported heritage site.

The matter is now listed on May 18.

Case Title: XXX XXX v. In Re-The State of Mizoram & 4 Ors.

Case No.: PIL(Suo Moto)/1/2026

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