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MP Forest Dept Launches Legal Cell to Streamline Court Case Management

The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has established a dedicated Legal Cell at its Bhopal headquarters to systematically monitor and handle court cases. The move comes after observations that delays and absences in court hearings were damaging the department's reputation. Principal Chief Conservator VN Ambade stated the cell will ensure time-bound compliance with court directives and prevent contempt proceedings. A specialized portal will also be developed to record and update all case information for streamlined functioning.

Key Points: MP Forest Dept Sets Up Legal Cell for Court Case Monitoring

  • Monitors all court cases
  • Ensures timely replies and hearings
  • Avoids contempt proceedings
  • Develops a dedicated portal for tracking
2 min read

MP Forest Department sets up 'Legal Cell' to monitor court cases

Madhya Pradesh Forest Department establishes a dedicated Legal Cell in Bhopal to ensure timely responses and avoid contempt in court proceedings.

"A dedicated Legal Cell is being established to monitor the court cases, ensure timely response and avoid contempt proceedings. - VN Ambade"

Bhopal, February 14

The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has ordered an establishment of a dedicated Legal Cell at its headquarters in the state capital Bhopal to ensure effective monitoring and timely handling of court cases related to the department.

According to an official order issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force, Madhya Pradesh, it has been observed that in several ongoing court matters, officers-in-charge (OICs) have either failed to file timely replies or remained absent during hearings. This has led to unpleasant situations and it has not only tarnished the department's reputation but also reflects a failure to present the department's position in court cases.

The order further noted, "There was no system at the headquarters level to continuously monitor all court cases, in view of which it has been decided to establish a "Legal Cell" at the Forest Department Headquarters, Van Bhawan, Bhopal."

Speaking to ANI over phone, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF), VN Ambade said, "A dedicated Legal Cell is being established to monitor the court cases, ensure timely response and avoid contempt proceedings. We observed that sometimes there were delays or an irregular approach in handling matters. Now, with the establishment of the Legal Cell, everything will be executed in a time-bound manner and proper compliance with the court directives will be ensured."

"A Legal Cell portal will also be developed where details of all upcoming court proceedings will be recorded and previous case information will be updated to ensure systematic and streamlined functioning," he added.

As per the order, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Production), has been designated as the controlling officer of the Legal Cell. The Information Technology wing of the department will assist in developing a Legal Cell portal to facilitate monitoring and coordination.

Officers and staff already handling such cases will be assigned to the newly constituted Legal Cell as per the requirement. The Legal Cell will be operational from February 15, 2026.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
This is a smart use of technology for governance. A centralized portal to track all cases will prevent things from falling through the cracks. The 2026 start date seems far off though – hope they can implement it sooner.
P
Priyanka N
Finally! The reputation of our departments suffers when officers don't show up in court. It shows a lack of respect for the judiciary. This cell should ensure that the forest department's side is presented properly, especially in cases against illegal mining and encroachment.
R
Rahul R
Good initiative on paper. But will it work on the ground? The problem is often a lack of seriousness, not a lack of a system. They need to fix the attitude of the officers first. Setting up a cell is easy, making it effective is the real challenge.
A
Anjali F
This is crucial for forest conservation. So many cases related to wildlife protection and deforestation get delayed because of procedural lapses. A focused legal team can help secure faster judgments. Our forests need this urgency. 🌳
M
Michael C
Interesting approach. The mention of avoiding "contempt proceedings" says a lot about the past failures. Hope this leads to more professional handling of legal matters and saves public money spent on fines and delays.

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