The Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision setting aside the High Court order that had directed the felling of apple trees on forest land, calling it a major victory for the state’s small and marginal farmers.
Kisan Sabha leaders said the apex court’s intervention restored hope and justice to thousands of orchardists whose livelihoods were at risk. They particularly praised the Chief Justice of India’s direction for the State government to formulate a policy providing land to marginal and deprived farmers and submit it for Central government approval.
Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, president of the Kisan Sabha, said the ruling vindicates the long-standing efforts of farmers’ organisations, including the Kisan Sabha and various apple growers’ associations, which have been advocating for the regularisation of up to five bighas of land for small and marginal cultivators.
The organisation highlighted that the High Court’s earlier directive to remove apple orchards had caused fear and uncertainty among farming families, especially in Himachal’s apple belt. The Kisan Sabha described the Supreme Court verdict as more than a legal relief, emphasizing that it reinforces India’s constitutional vision as a social welfare state. “The purpose of law is not to deprive farmers of their livelihood but to protect it,” the organisation said, noting that horticulture forms the economic lifeline of Himachal Pradesh.
The body added that the ruling sends a clear message: cultivators should not be treated as offenders over historical land issues, and policies must be humane, inclusive, and grounded in social justice. Terming the decision a morale booster for farming communities, the Kisan Sabha urged the State government to act swiftly on the court’s directions and frame a farmer-friendly policy in consultation with growers’ organisations, ensuring long-term security of land and livelihood for small and marginal farmers across Himachal Pradesh.
