Shimla, June 27 -- The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Una, to file a detailed affidavit explaining the alleged large-scale illegal transportation of forest produce from the state, observing that there is nothing on record to indicate the volume of timber being taken out of Himachal Pradesh or the quantity and species of trees allegedly being passed off as legally permitted forest produce.

The directions came from a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation arising from a communication alleging illegal tree felling and timber smuggling in Tehsil Gagret of Una district.

The Bench also directed the Sec...