The High Court of Kerala, in Gopinath R v. Ombudsman for Local Self Government Institutions ([2026: KER: 44156]), observed that Section 238 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, empowers a Grama Panchayat to cut or remove any tree, branch, portion, or fruit if it is likely to fall and endanger any person, structure, or cultivation.
But if no imminent danger exists, no action under the above Section is required by the Grama Panchayat.
