Delhi High Court, led by Justice Jasmeet Singh, issues contempt notices to officials for felling 1,000 trees illegally near South Asian University. Authorities face scrutiny for violating court orders, potentially leading to contempt charges.
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DELHI: Today(on 18th March), Justice Jasmeet Singh, leading the Delhi High Court, has issued contempt notices to significant officials for the unauthorized felling of more than 1,000 trees. This occurred in order to build an approach road near the South Asian University.
Justice Jasmeet Singh pointed out the severe non-compliance by the authorities, highlighting a “total violation” of previous court orders that strictly prohibited the cutting down of trees. The court’s directive was clear as it demanded an explanation from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Vice-Chairman and the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department, questioning why they should not face contempt charges.
The environmental violation was clear: 400 trees were illegally removed from DDA land, and a concerning 700 from forest territory. Justice Singh stated:
“This shows complete disregard for court orders and their violation.”
The court’s stance was resolute:
“Contempt notices are to be served to the vice-chairman of DDA and the principal secretary of forest. They must furnish an affidavit detailing reasons why contempt action should not be pursued against them.”
Further, the court mandated immediate action to prevent any additional tree felling in the Southern Ridge area. This directive came amid a legal examination concerning the permissions granted by tree officers for tree felling, which were issued without proper justification.
Legal representatives in the case disclosed that the Delhi government had recently allocated approximately 4.9 hectares of land for the construction of the approach road. However, tree cutting began prematurely, even before final orders were issued, resulting in the unauthorized removal of approximately 1,000 trees from both DDA and Southern Ridge lands.
The court referenced its previous year’s decision, which forbade any permissions for tree felling within Delhi. This historical context adds weight to the current legal proceedings and emphasizes the ongoing disregard for environmental safeguards.
The situation was further complicated as the Supreme Court had, earlier this month, rejected the DDA’s request for permission to fell or translocate trees. This rejection casts a shadow over the actions taken, as the court noted the tree felling as “even more shocking” in light of the Supreme Court’s decision.
Justice Singh issued a firm caution:
“Failure to adhere to legal statutes and court mandates may result in imprisonment.”
In defense, the DDA’s counsel argued that the agency was not responsible for the tree cutting, as their application for permission was still under review by the Supreme Court at that time.
Additionally, the court addressed another related issue concerning the pruning of trees in Janakpuri, questioning the forest department’s rationale and permissions for pruning branches with a significant girth of 45 cm.
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Earlier this month, the court articulated its discontent with the unauthorized tree felling for the approach road in the Southern Ridge area. Employing irony, it remarked that if the authorities sought to transfigure the capital into a desert resembling the Thar, they should formally declare such intentions.
The case is set for further hearing on1st April.
