Illegal Tree Cutting Complaint Guide India — Forest Dept + NGT (2026)

A residents' association in HSR Layout, Bangalore, files seven complaints over a year about a builder cutting mature trees; nothing happens. The trees were 40 years old, shading 200 households, and the builder “compensates” by planting six saplings on a 12,000 sq m site. This page sets out what the state Tree Acts, the Indian Forest Act 1927, the Forest Conservation Act 1980 and the National Green Tribunal actually provide, and the complaint / FIR / NGT / writ pathway to stop and reverse illegal felling.

Illegal tree-cutting checklist
Photograph the trees and the cut → file with the state Forest Department and the city Tree Authority (BBMP, MCGM, Delhi DDA) → file before the NGT under the NGT Act 2010 (free filing) → FIR for criminal felling under the state Trees Act, the Indian Forest Act 1927 and the BNS, 2023 → RTI to the Forest Department for permissions granted → for systemic violations, High Court (Article 226) PIL for compensatory afforestation enforcement.

To complain about illegal tree cutting in India: (1) photograph the cut tree(s) with a location pin and date; (2) file with the state Forest Department and the city's Tree Authority (BBMP Bangalore, MCGM Mumbai, DDA Delhi) within 24 hours; (3) file before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) at greentribunal.gov.in — free filing, fast resolution; (4) file an FIR at the police station under the relevant state Trees Act (Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act 1976, Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act 1975, Delhi Preservation of Trees Act 1994), the Indian Forest Act 1927 and the BNS, 2023; (5) file RTI under §6(1) RTI Act 2005 to the Forest Department for any permissions granted; (6) for systemic violations, file a PIL before the High Court.

• What counts as illegal tree cutting
• Statutory framework
• City Tree Authorities
• The 24-hour complaint checklist
• NGT — your most powerful lever
• Sample complaint + FIR + NGT petition
• Filing an RTI to Forest Department
• FAQ
• Myth vs reality

Any one of these is illegal under the state Tree Acts, the Indian Forest Act 1927 and the Forest Conservation Act 1980:

• Cutting any tree on private land without prior permission from the city Tree Authority (Tree Officer).
• Cutting trees on public land (footpath, park, road, government complex).
• Cutting trees in a deemed forest, ecologically sensitive zone or Protected Area.
• Pruning beyond 25% of the canopy without permission.
• “Maintenance” cutting of trees disguised as removal.
• Cutting heritage trees (older than 50 years).
• Cutting protected species (sandalwood, khair, banyan in some states).
• Removing roots or digging trenches that damage a tree.
• Bark-stripping that causes slow death.
• Chemical poisoning of trees.

Only with written permission from the city Tree Authority and compensatory plantation — typically at a 1:10 ratio (1 cut tree = 10 saplings, with survival care over several years).

• Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act 1976 — imprisonment and fine (§22).
• Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act 1975 — imprisonment up to 1 year and fine (§21).
• Delhi Preservation of Trees Act 1994 — imprisonment up to 1 year and fine (§24).

Sections 26 (reserved forests) and 33 (protected forests) prohibit felling, girdling and lopping; the general penalty is imprisonment up to 6 months and/or a fine up to ₹500.

Section 2 bars the use or diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes without the prior approval of the Central Government. Contravention is punishable under §3A (simple imprisonment up to 15 days). The Act was amended in 2023 and is also cited as the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.

The NGT has jurisdiction over civil cases involving a substantial question relating to the environment (§14) and can grant relief, compensation and restitution (§15). Direct filing, no filing fee.

Destroying or damaging a tree is the offence of mischief to property under the BNS, 2023, punishable with imprisonment and/or fine.

The CAMPA Act 2016 provides for compensatory plantation and payment to the CAMPA fund for cleared forest land, with survival care of the plantations.

bbmp.gov.in — Tree Officer permission is required for cutting trees on private land.

mcgm.gov.in — Tree Authority section. Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act 1975.

DDA Tree Officer and the Delhi Forest Department. Delhi Preservation of Trees Act 1994.

ghmc.gov.in — Urban Forestry.

Greater Chennai Corporation Tree Officer.

• Karnataka — aranya.gov.in
• Maharashtra — mahaforest.gov.in
• UP — upforest.gov.in

1. Hour 0: Photograph the trees, the cut and the builder/contractor on site (if visible).
2. Hour 0–2: GPS pin (Google Maps location).
3. Hour 2: File on the city Tree Authority portal and email the Forest Officer.
4. Hour 4: FIR at the police station under the state Trees Act and IFA §26.
5. Day 1: NGT online filing.
6. Day 1: Email evidence to the NGT, Forest Department, Tree Authority and State Pollution Control Board.
7. Day 7: RTI to the Forest Department for any permissions granted.
8. Day 14: Public Interest Litigation if the violation is systemic.

greentribunal.gov.in → File a Case. Free for citizen-filed environmental cases. NGT benches sit at Delhi (Principal), Pune, Bhopal, Chennai and Kolkata.

• Description of the incident.
• Photographs, GPS and date.
• Local complaint reference numbers.
• Forest Department / Tree Authority permission status.
• Witness affidavits.
• Damage to public or environmental interest.

• Stay further cutting via an interim order (within 24–48 hours).
• Mandatory restoration and compensatory plantation.
• Compensation for environmental damage.
• Personal liability of the builder or officer.

In Re: Aarey Forest (NGT 2019) — halted tree-cutting for the Mumbai Metro car shed. T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. UoI (1996) 2 SCC 549 — the Supreme Court's continuing “forest” case that defines what counts as a forest nationwide.

[Complainant's letterhead]
By Speed Post AD + email
DD-MM-2026

To,
The Tree Officer / Tree Authority
[City Municipal Corporation]

Sub: Complaint of illegal tree cutting at [Address]

I, [Name], resident of [Address], submit:

1. On DD-MM-2026, ___ trees were cut on the property
   at [Address] by [Name of contractor / builder].
   Photographs at Annexure A.

2. The trees were ___ years old, native species
   ([Names — neem, gulmohar, banyan, mango]).

3. No prior permission from your office was visible
   at site.

4. The cutting was carried out between HH:MM and
   HH:MM in violation of [State Trees Act + city
   bylaws].

I request:
  (a) Immediate stay on further cutting.
  (b) Site visit + verification by Tree Officer.
  (c) FIR / show-cause notice against the contractor.
  (d) Mandatory compensatory plantation at 1:10 ratio
      with survival care.
  (e) Penalty + recovery from the contractor's
      property tax record.

I have separately filed FIR no. _______ + NGT
petition.

Yours sincerely,
[Name, address, contact]

Annexure A — photographs
Annexure B — Google Maps pin
Annexure C — original tree count from earlier
              residents' surveys / Google Earth
              historical imagery

IN THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL,
[Pune / Delhi / Chennai] Bench

Application No. _________ of 2026

[Complainant Name]                          ... Applicant
        [Address]

vs.

1. [Builder / Contractor Name]              ... Respondent
2. The State Forest Department              ... Respondent
3. The Tree Authority, [City]               ... Respondent
4. The Municipal Commissioner, [City]       ... Respondent

PETITION UNDER NGT ACT 2010 SECTION 14 + 15
+ SCHEDULE I

The applicant respectfully submits:

[Pleadings — facts, environmental damage, prayer for
stay, restoration, compensation, costs.]

Documents:
  Annexure A — photographs of cut trees
  Annexure B — pre-cut imagery (Google Earth)
  Annexure C — Tree Authority complaint
  Annexure D — FIR copy
  Annexure E — Tree count / species identification

Verification: [Standard]

DD-MM-2026
[Applicant Name]

PIO, [State] Forest Department / Tree Authority

Sub: Application under §6(1) RTI Act 2005

Please furnish, in respect of the property at [Address]
(Plot / Survey No. _______):

1. Number of permissions granted for tree cutting at
   this property in the last 24 months, with dates.

2. The number of trees + species permitted to be cut.

3. The compensatory plantation requirement specified
   in each permission.

4. Status of compensatory plantation compliance.

5. Whether any complaint of illegal tree cutting at
   this property has been received in the last
   24 months and action taken.

6. The Tree Officer's inspection report on the
   incident of DD-MM-2026.

A reply is requested under §7(1) within 30 days.

[Name, address, contact]
DD-MM-2026

T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. UoI (1996) 2 SCC 549 — the continuing “forest” case that governs forest cover nationwide. In Re: Aarey Forest (NGT 2019). Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. UoI (1996) 5 SCC 647. M.C. Mehta v. UoI (1986) 2 SCC 176.

• NGT — greentribunal.gov.in
• MoEFCC — moef.gov.in
• State Forest Departments — aranya.gov.in (Karnataka), mahaforest.gov.in (Maharashtra), upforest.gov.in (UP)
• City Tree Authorities — BBMP, MCGM, DDA, GHMC
• State Tree Acts — Karnataka 1976, Maharashtra 1975, Delhi 1994
• Indian Forest Act 1927 — §26, §33
• Forest Conservation Act 1980 — §2, §3A
• CAMPA Act 2016 — compensatory afforestation
• NGT Act 2010 — §14, §15, Schedule I
• BNS, 2023 — mischief to property

Related help:

• AI RTI Drafter — draft the Forest Department RTI above.
• Encroachment complaint guide
• RTI Act 2005 — complete guide

No. Most state Tree Acts require Tree Officer permission for any tree on private land above a certain age or girth.

File RTI under §6(1) to the Tree Authority. Permission orders are routinely disclosable.

An interim stay is possible within 24–48 hours; final orders typically take longer.

Approach the Magistrate under BNSS, 2023 §175(3) to direct the police to register the FIR.

The NGT can award compensation for loss of public ecological value; the major amount usually goes to environmental restoration rather than the individual petitioner.

Compensatory plantation at 1:10 with survival care is the standard. Saplings without survival care amount to non-compliance.

Yes — for systemic illegal cutting, a PIL before the High Court.

A joint complaint to the Tree Authority, a civil suit for damages, and an FIR for criminal damage.

Only with a verified Tree Officer certification. Self-declared “dangerous” cuts are illegal.

A tree expert or botanist, ring counting, and photographic comparison with similar trees nearby. The Tree Authority maintains an approved expert panel.

Last reviewed: 17 July 2026.