In a most awaited hearing on Friday, July 12, 2024 the Supreme Court castigated
Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, Delhi Government and Delhi Development
Authority for illegally felling 1051 trees in Delhi’s South Ridge, also known as Delhi’s one of
the three lungs. It also ordered real-time monitoring of Delhi’s forests with help of modern
technology so that not a single tree is felled illegally.
When no one gave a categorical answer, the court directed the DDA to file an affidavit
clearly stating whether it cut down the trees on its own or on instructions of the LG. “You
have to tell the truth to the Court”. It also directed the contractor Satyapal Brothers to reveal
on whose instructions did they fell so many green trees.
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The Court also asked Delhi Government represented by the Chief Secretary and Principal
Secretary Environment and Forests, why didn’t they stop the DDA from felling the trees
without Supreme Court’s permission. They too have been asked to file an affidavit. “Delhi
Government should stop exercising non-existent powers. You can’t cut a single tree without
Tree Officer’s permission. Tell us how many such permissions have been granted in last five
years.
The Delhi Prevention of Tree Act 1994 prescribes that tree officer can grant permission to
cut trees in less than one hectare area. Anything over and above that will need Lieutenant
Governor’s permission. But LG has given such permission to clear forest areas under
section 29 of DPTA as many as 94 times during past five years.
The court also came down on Delhi’s Forest department seeking to know whether a Forest
official was present at the spot while trees were being felled illegally and why didn’t he stop
the felling. “What action did you take even after the incident? Did you send notices to DDA
and contractor?” the court asked.
Noting absence of statutory Tree Authority in Delhi without whose permission not a single
tree could be cut in the state, the court ordered Delhi government to constitute the Authority
before the next hearing, which has been fixed for July 31. It also asked the Govt to put in the
required infrastructure for office of the Tree Authority in six weeks.
It also forest department to seize logs of all the felled trees, make a record of them – how
many trees were chopped and their species.
