The Delhi High Court issued a stark warning that continued apathy towards deforestation could transform the city into a barren desert. This urgent admonition follows alarming recent temperatures that soared to an unprecedented 52.3 degrees Celsius. The court highlighted the critical importance of immediate and effective measures to combat deforestation and protect Delhi’s dwindling green spaces.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court expressed grave concerns over the issue of deforestation in the city. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that if the current generation maintains an indifferent attitude towards the loss of forests in Delhi, the city may transform into a barren, desert-like landscape.
The judge also highlighted the concerning rise in temperatures, noting that Delhi recently experienced temperatures reaching as high as 52.3 degrees Celsius.
The Court stated,
“The court observes that as recently as May 30, 2024, the official temperature in Delhi reached 52.3 degrees Celsius. The risk is imminent that Delhi could become nothing more than a barren desert if the current generation maintains its indifferent stance towards deforestation. Given these circumstances, the court emphasized that the specified directives must be adhered to within strict deadlines,”
The Court commented on the issue while addressing a series of petitions focused on the preservation and management of Delhi’s forests.
In April 2024, during hearings of the same cases, the High Court appointed ex-judge Justice Najmi Waziri to lead an internal departmental committee responsible for forest conservation in the capital.
On May 31, it reported to the High Court that the necessary infrastructure, secretarial staff, and transportation support required for Justice Waziri to fulfil his duties still pending.
The Court mandated the government to fulfil all conditions set for the chairperson and the committee by July 29, when the case will be revisited.
Additionally, the committee has been rebranded as the Special Empowered Committee.
The Court stated,
“The rationale for the name change is that the former designation, ‘Internal Departmental Committee,’ suggested that the Committee and the esteemed Chairperson were under the Department’s influence, which is not the case. This Court is convinced that the ‘Special Empowered Committee’ is an independently functioning body with specific powers assigned to it, and it will carry out its duties accordingly,”
The court mandated the participation of officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, the Land and Development Office, the Central Public Works Department, and the Delhi Cantonment Board in the committee’s meetings.
Advocates Aditya N Prasad, Gautam Narayan, and Prabhsahay Kaur were appointed as amici curiae for the case.
The petitioner, Devinder, represented by advocates Madan Lal Sharma and Tejaswini Verma.
The Union of India defended by Central Government Standing Counsels Nidhi Raman and Kirtiman Singh, with the assistance of advocates Akash Mishra, Waize Ali Noor, Varun Rajawat, Vidhi Jain, Aryan Agrawal, Kartik Baijal, and Varun Pratap Singh.
For the Delhi government, Additional Standing Counsel Avishkar Singhvi, along with advocates Naved Ahmed, Vivek Kr Singh, and Shubham Kumar, made appearances.
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Advocate RA Iyer represented Justice (Retired) Najmi Waziri.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) represented by advocates Manika Tripathy, Sanjay Katyal, Naveen K Sarswat, Rony John, and Kritika Gupta.
NDMC’s legal arguments presented by Additional Standing Counsel Vipul Ganda and Sakshi Rastogi.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) represented by Additional Standing Counsel Neha Jain.
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