Judicial Rebuke: Haryana Forest Secretary Faces Contempt Proceedings Over Morni Demarcation Delays

In a significant judicial intervention, the High Court has issued a contempt notice to the Haryana Forest Secretary over protracted delays in demarcating the Morni region. This action stems from a 2017 Public Interest Litigation filed by Panchkula resident Vijay Bansal, who sought enforcement of settlement procedures mandated under the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887. The court's move signals mounting judicial impatience with administrative inertia in resolving long-standing territorial ambiguities. Analysis suggests this case represents a critical test of bureaucratic accountability in land governance matters, with potential implications for similar pending disputes across northern India. The contempt proceedings underscore the judiciary's increasingly assertive role in compelling executive compliance with statutory obligations, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas where demarcation delays can fuel resource conflicts and legal uncertainty. This development warrants close monitoring by stakeholders in land administration, environmental policy, and judicial oversight mechanisms.