A public interest petition has been filed before the High Court challenging a government order issued by the state administration that authorises urban planning bodies to grant approvals for housing layouts in hill regions and to allow changes in land use without obtaining mandatory clearance from the hill area conservation authority. The court has taken the petition on file and directed the state government to submit its response within four weeks. According to the petition, the hill area conservation authority was constituted in 1990 with the objective of safeguarding ecologically sensitive hill regions that are increasingly affected by urbanisation and industrial expansion. Under the existing regulatory framework, no development activity can be undertaken in 597 identified hill villages without prior approval from this authority. However, a government order issued in February empowered urban planning authorities to independently approve housing layouts in hill areas and permit land-use changes, effectively removing the requirement for clearance from the conservation authority. The petitioner argued that this order weakens long-standing environmental protection mechanisms and could result in serious ecological damage to fragile hill ecosystems. The plea seeks to quash the government order and also requests interim directions restraining planning authorities from granting layout approvals or permitting construction in hill areas based on the impugned order. The petition further contends that the government order is arbitrary and violates the constitutional guarantee of equality before law. It also asserts that the order infringes upon the right to a clean and healthy environment, which is an integral part of the right to life. The plea cites constitutional provisions mandating the state and citizens to protect and improve the natural environment.