Chandigarh, April 2 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday restrained the Haryana government from felling trees without court's permission.

The high court bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sanjiv Berry said this while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) against felling of nearly 5,000 trees for Zirakpur bypass project of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), connecting Zirakpur in Punjab to a toll plaza on Chandigarh- Shimla highway in Haryana in Chandigarh's neighborhood.

Multiple lawyers confirmed the development. However, a detailed order is awaited.

"The matter was heard on Wednesday by the chief justice's bench, which stayed the felling of trees in the present matter (highway construction). The...