The Punjab and Haryana High Court Today (June 19) took suo motu action after reports claimed that DLF was cutting nearly 2,000 trees in Gurugram’s Aravalli hills. Notices were sent to Haryana government, Gurugram MC, and DLF, with the next hearing set for June 26.
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CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken serious action on its own (suo motu) after a newspaper report claimed that real estate company DLF was cutting almost 2,000 trees in the Aravalli area of Gurugram for its new housing project.
This matter came up after The Tribune published a news report on June 12 stating that a large number of trees were being cut down on about 40 acres of land in DLF Phase 5, Gurugram.
Local people and environmental activists raised strong objections and said the builder was “destroying the Aravallis”.
In response, the High Court formed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on its own (suo motu).
A Division Bench consisting of Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Aman Chaudhary took up the matter.
The Court issued notices to the Haryana Government, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), and DLF Limited.
The High Court said,
“State counsel is directed to inform the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram in this regard and status report be filed within a week”
and fixed June 26 as the next date for hearing.
During the hearing, the lawyer for the Haryana government informed the Court that the real estate project falls under the limits of the Municipal Corporation.
The Court was informed,
“Any permission is to be granted by [MC].”
According to the news report, trees were being cut on a big chunk of land in DLF Phase 5. Environmental groups and local citizens expressed deep concern, alleging illegal deforestation in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli region.
In the same report, Subhash Yadav, who is the Chief Conservator of Forests (South Haryana), said that the land belongs to DLF. He was quoted saying the forest department has no control over that land because it is not officially classified as forest land.
Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court also started two more suo motu PILs on the same day. One case is about the lack of attendants and nursing staff at PGIMER, Chandigarh. The second case is about serious waterlogging issues in Zirakpur, Punjab.
In the Aravalli tree-felling case, the Haryana government was represented by Additional Advocate General RKS Brar.
In the PGIMER staff shortage matter, Senior Advocate Amit Jhanji and Advocate Himmat Singh Sidhu appeared for the institute.
In the waterlogging case of Zirakpur, the Punjab Government was represented by Senior Deputy Advocate General Salil Sablok.
CASE TITLE:
Court on its Motion vs State of Haryana.
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