NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday held Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials guilty of contempt for felling trees in the Ridge area and ordered extensive afforestation.
The top court, however, noted that there was no malafide intent (of the DDA).
"Illegal felling of trees in southern ridge of Delhi by DDA to widen road for a super speciality hospital for paramilitary forces, who suffer grave injuries in service of the country, is contempt but there is no mala fide intent on their part," said, a two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Surya Kant and also comprising Justice N Kotiswar in the verdict.
Directing to compensate and for remedial measures for the same, the top court ordered the DDA and its offficials to go for extensive afforestation.
In its verdict, the Supreme Court observed that the case involved gross contempt, noting that even the Lieutenant Governor was named as a contemnor by the petitioners over the alleged illegal felling of trees.
The court although found DDA guilty of contempt of court, but did not sentence any official, on the ground since the intention was for a good cause. "Thereby the DDA has to undertake extensive afforestation," directed the apex court in its Judgement.
The top court asked each DDA official, except DDA chairperson and vice-chairperson, responsible for felling trees without prior permission of the SC to deposit a fine of Rs 25,000 each.
It even asked the DDA to levey a suitable fee on the residents in the area residing there, who will enjoy the widened road.
Justice Kant said, an apex court constituted a three-member Committee would commence the afforestation exercise by framing a plan. "The DDA and Delhi government also hsve to implement the comprehensive measures given by the Committee to enhance green cover of Delhi," it said.
The top court passed the verdict on a contempt plea alleging violation of the 1996 and March 4, 2024, order banning on tree felling and deliberate non-compliance of orders on the part of the Delhi LG and IAS officer Subhasish Panda as DDA chairman and vice-chairman respectively.
The court was apprised by the petitioner that over alleged cutting of 1,100 trees in the ridge forest for a road widening project was made by the DDA.
In an earlier hearing, the apex court slamned the Delhi government for granting permission to the DDA to chop 422 trees in the Southern Ridge's reserve forest area for the construction of a road, after noting that the Delhi government has shown lack of sensitivity over protecting the environment.
"The Delhi government must take the blame for granting permission to fell 422 trees, though there was no statutory power vesting in the Delhi government to grant such permission," saud, earlier, the two-judge bench of the top court, led by Justice Abhay S Oka (Now retired).
The top court also added that apart from the trees in the ridge area, the government also facilitated cutting and felling the trees outside the ridge area without permission under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994.
The Court had earlier criticised severely the concerned senior officials for not highlighting the need for Court permission for felling trees in the ridge area and a tree officer's permission for other areas.