the authorities shall not grant any permission for felling or removal of rosewood trees in any private lands. 5.Call on 18.09.2026. (N.S.K., J.) (K.R.S., J.) 14.08.2026 mkn To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu,

by Sekar Reporter · Published August 22, 2026 · Updated August 22, 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 14.08.2026
CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N. SATHISH KUMAR
AND
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR
W. P.No.3676 of 2026and
W.M.P.No.4070 of 2026
Dr.T.Murugavel
Petitioner(s) Vs
1.The Government of Tamil Nadu,
Represented by the Additional Chief Secretary,
Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change,
Secretariat, Fort St. George,
Chennai – 600 009 and another
Respondent(s)
For Petitioner : Mr.T.Mohan
Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Venugopalraj
For Respondent(s): Mr.Mohammed Fayaz Ali
Special Government Pleader for R1 and R2
Amici Curiae
1. Mr.C.Mohan, Advocate
2. Mr.T.Mohan, Senior Advocate
3. Mr.M.Santhanaraman, Advocate
4. Mr.Rahul Balaji, Advocate
ORDER
Challenge has been made to G.O. (Ms.) No. 88, Environment, Climate
Change and Forests (FR.4) Department, dated 09.06.2025, whereby the
Government have accepted the proposal of the Principal Chief Conservator of
Forests (Head of Forest Force) for repealing the Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994, and the Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Rules, 1995.
2.Mr. T. Mohan, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, would point out that the impugned Government Order, in fact, enables uncontrolled removal of rosewood available in various patta lands. In fact, according to him, the impugned Government Order has been issued only with a vested interest. It is his contention that the Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994, itself was enacted with the object of preserving rosewood. The preamble of the Act itself clearly shows that rosewood is one of the important wood species endemic to the forests of Southern India, especially in Tamil Nadu, and it is also indicated in the preamble that rosewood is a rare species which is almost impossible to regenerate except by natural growth. Therefore, only in that context, in order to preserve rosewood trees, the Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994, came to be enacted. Whereas, now, the impugned Government Order has been passed as if it is intended to increase the green cover, as mandated under the National Forest Policy, by promoting tree cultivation on private lands and also to encourage farmers to take up the plantation of rosewood trees in large numbers in their patta lands, in view of the competitive and remunerative price of rosewood trees. Therefore, a recommendation has been made by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to repeal the Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994.
3.Heard Mr. Mohammed Fayaz Ali, learned Special Government Pleader, appearing for respondents 1 and 2. Though a counter affidavit has already been filed, the learned Special Government Pleader would submit that a detailed counter affidavit will be filed after going through the various proposals in this regard and
examining what transpired even after the Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994, came into force. Therefore, he seeks some more time. Let the learned Special Government Pleader file a better counter affidavit in this regard.
4.The reasons for recommending for repeal of the Tamil Nadu Rosewood
Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994, defy logic for the simple reason that the original
Act itself indicates that rosewood is a rare species endemic to Southern India and is almost impossible to regenerate except by natural growth. Such a recommendation by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, therefore, defies logic. Therefore, the impugned Government Order in G.O. (Ms.) No. 88, Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.4) Department, dated 09.06.2025, shall be kept in abeyance. Further, till the writ petition is disposed of, the authorities shall not grant any permission for felling or removal of rosewood trees in any private lands.
5.Call on 18.09.2026.
(N.S.K., J.) (K.R.S., J.) 14.08.2026
mkn
To
1.The Additional Chief Secretary,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.
2.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Velachery, Chennai.