New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on August 20 sharply criticized the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing to prune trees in Dwarka, warning that its inaction had already cost a life. The Court stressed the urgent need for preventive measures to ensure public safety.
A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed authorities to immediately act on pruning, noting that neglect was endangering pedestrians and road users.
Bench Expresses Concern
The judges remarked that authorities were not discharging their duties, despite clear guidelines. “Tending of trees and light pruning is required to make lives of pedestrians and road users safe,” the bench observed.
They noted that heavy rains had frequently caused trees to collapse, leading to property damage and fatalities. “We direct the authorities to follow the directions. We have lost a life. What else can be eye-opening for the MCD?” the Court stated.
PIL on Public Safety
The directive came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which argued that despite the Delhi government’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), action on tree pruning remained inadequate.
The petition emphasized that falling branches and dead tree parts caused accidents, property loss, and disrupted movement on roads and footpaths. Photographs submitted with the PIL highlighted the dangers, prompting the bench to demand swift compliance.
Directions Issued
The Court referred to a notification from the Department of Forest and Wildlife, GNCTD, outlining guidelines for pruning trees along roads, parks, and public spaces.
It directed authorities to complete a survey of Dwarka within 10 days to identify trees requiring pruning. The pruning process must then be completed within four weeks after the survey.
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