Early Times Report JAMMU, July 30: As part of the campaign "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" and to commemorate Van Mahotsav-2026, the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, today inaugurated the Monsoon Plantation Drive in the premises of the High Court at Jammu by planting a Rudraksh sapling. On the occasion, the Judges of the High Court of J&K at Jammu also participated in the plantation drive by planting saplings of different indigenous species. Those who planted saplings included Justice Sindhu Sharma, Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Justice Mohd. Akram Chowdhary, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Justice Rajesh Sekhri, and Justice Sanjay Parihar. The plantation programme was organized by the Jammu Forest Division. Judicial Officers who participated in the event included M. K. Sharma, Registrar General, Rajeev Gupta, Registrar Vigilance, Umesh Sharma, Registrar IT, Svati Gupta, Registrar Judicial, and Sunil Kumar, Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority. The programme was attended by Pardeepchandra P. Wahule, Conservator of Forests, East Circle, Jammu, Anurag Arya, Divisional Forest Officer, Jammu, Kailash Choudhary, Range Officer, Jammu, Wajid Rafiqi, Range Officer, Bahu, along with officers and officials of the Forest Department, who actively participated by planting saplings. The event was also graced by O.P. Sharma "Vidyarthi", noted Environmentalist. During the programme, a variety of native tree species including Rudraksh, Putranjiva, Sita Ashok, Sukh Chain, Neem, Plash, and Arjun etc were planted. All participants resolved to ensure proper care, maintenance, and protection of the saplings and to further enhance the landscaping of the High Court premises. On the occasion, the Forest Department appealed to the public to actively participate in the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign by planting and nurturing trees in all available spaces. The Department highlighted that trees play a vital role in carbon sequestration, mitigating climate change, improving air quality, recharging groundwater, conserving biodiversity, and reducing environmental pollution. Citizens were urged to join hands with the Forest Department in expanding green cover and making the campaign a people's movement for a cleaner, greener, and healthier future. They emphasized that the ongoing monsoon season provides the most suitable conditions for plantation and stressed the need to organize similar plantation drives on a regular basis to strengthen environmental conservation and increase green cover. |