'Excessive Delay Rendered Trial Meaningless, Violates Article 21 Rights Of Accused': 23-Year-Old Tree Felling Case Quashed: Rajasthan High Court

The Jodhpur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court has quashed criminal proceedings for offences under the Forest Conservation Act and the Rajasthan Forest Act that had been pending for 23 years. The case involved allegations against several individuals, including labourers, contractors, and officers of the Public Works Department (PWD), for illegally cutting trees in a protected forest area in 2002. The long delay in the case, combined with the lack…