Plant saplings before furnish bail bonds - a court order like this took everyone by surprise last Friday. However, none of the four accused in an assault case has planted a sapling till Wednesday.

The order, the first of its kind in the state, created ripples in the legal fratern-ity as well as the police circles. "Such an order has never been passed by any court in the state. This is a positive step initiated by the judiciary," said Madhubani superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar.

A court headed by judicial magistrate Manvendra Mishra had passed the order last Friday asking the accused - Rama Mandal, Ratan Mandal, Rajesh Mandal and Lalit Mandal, all residents of Singhaso village in Madhubani district - to plant saplings on the court campus.

The order followed a bail petition filed by advocate Arun Kumar Yadav on behalf of the four accused, who were charged with assault and hurling abuses.

"As soon as the argument concluded, the judicial magistrate directed the accused to plant saplings in the court premises," Arun told The Telegraph.

The order was part of the conditions for grant of bail to the accused. The court further asked the accused to furnish bail bonds of Rs 5000 each, Arun said, adding: "I was also taken aback at the court's directive to plant saplings and take care of them."

The court has set June 25 as deadline to comply with the order.

Public prosecutor Raj Kumar said the court might revert its decision and cancel the bail if the order was not complied with.

The next date of hearing has been fixed on June 25, he said.

Bisfi police station house officer (SHO) Ramashankar Paswan said the case in which the strange order came was related to assault and ransacking of the house of one Shiv Mandal at Singhaso village on March 30, 2001.

The case was lodged on the statement of one Shivan against 11 people.

However, non-bailable warrants were issued against the four accused as they were absconding after the incident. "The four accused come from an economically backward family. For long, nobody wanted to make a pairvi for them in the case," the SHO revealed.

He added: "I have never heard such an order passed by any court in Bihar earlier. This will help not only in making people environment friendly but also develop sense how to maintain ecological balance."

SP Rajesh revealed that till date the accused have not planted any sapling following the order.

"But they have enough time to comply with the order," he added.

Parmeshwar Mandal, who runs a stationery shop in front of the court, also hailed the decision.

"The order will inculcate a good sense and etiquette among people," he said.

Patna High Court had, almost in a similar order, asked an accused in a case to wipe the floor of Mahavir temple near Patna Junction as part of condition for grant of bail.