High Court sends contempt notice to DDA and Forest officials for cutting down 1,000 trees

The Delhi High Court has taken serious action against the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) vice-chairman and the principal secretary of the forest department for their involvement in the felling of over 1,000 trees, including those on Southern Ridge land, to construct an approach road near the South Asian University.

Justice Jasmeet Singh criticized the authorities for their “total violation” of court orders against tree cutting and directed them to submit an affidavit explaining why contempt action should not be initiated against them.

The court noted that 400 trees were cut on DDA land and 700 on forest land, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the court’s directives.

Furthermore, the court ordered the officials to ensure that no further trees are felled in the Southern Ridge, emphasizing the importance of adhering to environmental regulations.

Lawyers involved in the case highlighted that despite a notification issued by the Delhi government last month, exempting approximately 4.9 hectares of land for the road construction, the trees were cut down prematurely.

The court also referenced a recent Supreme Court dismissal of the DDA’s application seeking permission to fell or translocate trees, further underscoring the disregard for legal procedures.

In response to the situation, Justice Singh warned of potential jail time for those failing to abide by the law and court orders.

Representatives from the DDA argued that they had not authorized the tree felling as their application to the Supreme Court was pending adjudication at the time.

Additionally, the court questioned the forest department’s authorization of tree pruning with a 45 cm girth in another case, seeking clarification on the rationale behind such actions.

The court had previously expressed displeasure over the tree cutting in the Southern Ridge area and challenged authorities to justify their actions if they intended to transform the capital into a desert-like environment.

The case is set to be heard again on April 1, underscoring the ongoing legal battle to protect Delhi’s green spaces amidst developmental pressures.

(With PTI inputs)