Madras High Court Stays TN Government Order on Rosewood Felling

The Madras High Court has temporarily stayed a government order (G.O) issued by the Tamil Nadu government accepting the recommendations of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to repeal the Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994. The stay was granted by a division bench of Justices N Sathish Kumar and K Rajasekar on a petition filed by Dr T Murugavel, an environmental activist. In its order, the bench said the reasons for recommending repeal "defy logic," noting that the original Act itself indicates rosewood is a rare species endemic to southern India and almost impossible to regenerate except by natural growth. The court ordered that the G.O be kept in abeyance and that authorities shall not grant permission for felling or removal of rosewood.