In a significant ruling, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has quashed a notification from January 2022 that declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Col Sherjung National Park, also known as Simbalbara National Park, located in Sirmaur district, India. This decision provides relief to 19 villages that were adversely affected by the ESZ designation, which imposed restrictions on land use, construction, and economic activities. The court, led by justices Vivek Singh Thakur and Ranjan Sharma, determined that the authorities did not adhere to the mandatory procedural guidelines established in 2011 for declaring Eco-Sensitive Zones. The court highlighted that the process lacked necessary surveys and expert committee involvement, leading to a flawed notification that expanded the ESZ coverage from four to 19 villages without proper justification. This ruling underscores the importance of following due process in environmental regulations to protect the interests of local communities.