Madras High Court bans Karuvelam trees

Madurai: The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Monday issued direction to the state government to pass a special law for the removal of Seemai Karuvelam trees (propospis julifora) within two months.

Considering the evil nature of the tree, the government should pass special law for its removal and to prohibit future planting of the trees, said Justice A. Selvam. The division bench comprising Justices Selvam and P. Kalaiyarasan also issued order to the government to give perennial funds to the district collectors across the State to completely weed out the trees.

While directing the State to remove the trees across Tamil Nadu within 15 days, Justice Selvam said that the court would continue to supervise the removal work by conducting surprise inspections.

The additional public prosecutor P. Govind-arajan tried to argue that the collectors in 13 districts of southern and central Tamil Nadu have made progress in removing the trees following the earlier order of this court, but the judges refused to accept it.

Meanwhile, MDMK leader Vaiko, one of the petitioners, also submitted his inspection report before the court stating that the trees have been removed only in a few places in Ramanathap-uram and Sivaganga districts.

Stating that only 10 per cent of Seemai Karu-velam trees had been removed in the 13 southern districts, Justice Selvam said that the collectors in some districts did not properly comply with the court order.