Chandigarh, June 14 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed petitioners in at least five bail cases to plant saplings of indigenous plants during the upcoming monsoon season.

The vacation bench, headed by chief justice Sheel Nagu, passed these orders on Friday while hearing bail matters involving accused individuals from various districts in Punjab. The petitioners face charges ranging from assault, criminal intimidation, forgery, bribery, to cheating.

The court mandated that each petitioner must plant 10 saplings of indigenous species at a public place within 15 days and submit photographic proof of the plantation to the police station where their FIR is registered. Failure to provide such proof, or submission of false inform...