Today, On 19th December, The Supreme Court directed a tree census in Delhi and ruled that no more than 50 trees can be cut down without approval from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). This order came in response to a plea seeking the Court’s role in upholding the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994. The initiative focuses on better oversight of tree felling and protecting the environment. The Court highlighted the importance of sustainable urban development through this decision.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court directed Delhi authorities on Thursday to conduct a tree census and mandated that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) be consulted before permitting the felling of 50 or more trees.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih instructed the Delhi Forest Department to collaborate with the Forest Research Institute (FRI) for this census.
Additionally, the Court specified that three experts retired IFS officers Ishwar Singh and Suneel Nimay, along with tree expert Pradeep Singh should assist in the process.
The Court stated,
“All of them will act as a team to carry out the tree census. The infrastructure shall be provided by the Government of India as per requisition made by the Tree authority.”
The Court addressing a petition that, among other requests, sought permission from the court before any trees are felled in areas protected under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994. Previously, it had instructed the tree authority to update the Court on the functioning of its members and the procedures they follow for tree felling.
On this occasion, the Court mandated that whenever tree officers approve the felling of 50 or more trees, they must immediately send all relevant documents to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) following the approval.
The Court stated,
“Upon receipt of documents, it will be open for CEC to call upon the tree officer to obtain additional documents. The CEC will consider the application and all other aspects and will decide whether permission should be granted, possibly with certain terms and conditions. We clarify that while granting permission to fell 50 or more trees, unless the circumstances are exceptional, conditions should be imposed for planting new trees; otherwise, the permission for felling should not proceed.”
In its efforts to protect Delhi’s ecological heritage, the Supreme Court has been actively monitoring and criticizing authorities for unauthorized tree felling and inadequate conservation measures.
Illegal tree felling is a serious environmental issue, leading to deforestation, habitat destruction, and ecological imbalance. Authorities often grapple with enforcing regulations against unauthorized cutting, especially in forested and protected areas. Judicial interventions, like the Supreme Court’s directives, play a crucial role in holding violators accountable and ensuring sustainable practices.
Public awareness and support are also important to stop this harmful activity and protect natural resources.