Delhi High Court Constitutes Committee Headed By Retired Judge To Examine Issues Regarding Forests

The Delhi High Court on Thursday constituted an inter-departmental committee headed by a retired judge of the court to examine the issues regarding forests in the national capital.

Justice Jasmeet Singh said that for effective discharge of its responsibilities, the Committee may call for any documents from any persons, government or any other official.

The court said that it will indicate the name of the retired judge in the order.

Justice Singh directed that the Committee will undertake site inspection of the forest area involved and seek assistance or presence of any person or official related to the matter.

The court also said that the Committee will co-opt one or more persons as its members or as special invitees for dealing with specific issues.

Justice Singh directed the Delhi Government to provide suitable and adequate office accommodation for the Committee and to bear all the expenses of its functioning, including suitable remuneration.

The matter will now be heard on January 29, 2024.

The court was dealing with the plea, concerning preservation of deemed forests in the city, moved by one Neeraj Sharma.

Earlier, the court had sought a status report from the Delhi Government and other civic authorities on "deemed forests" existing as on date in the national capital and the action taken on the depletion of such forests.

In July, the court had impleaded the MCD, DDA, L&DO, NHAI, Delhi Cantonment Board, Railways, Irrigation & Flood Control of Delhi Government and CPWD as parties in the matter.

Notably, Sharma has sought a direction to the Delhi Government and its forest department to demarcate all the deemed forest areas listed in an affidavit filed in 1997 by the then Conservator of Forests before the Supreme Court in T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpud v. Union of India & Ors.

Besides a direction to the Delhi Government to take appropriate steps to protect deemed forests under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the plea seeks installation of appropriate signage for protection and preservation of the deemed forests.

A direction has also been sought for the Union Government to lay down appropriate guidelines for taking time-bound administrative or disciplinary action against officials who fail to prevent commission of violations of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 in accordance with law.

Advocates Gautam Narayan and Aditya N Prasad appeared for the petitioner in the matter.

Case Title: Neeraj Sharma v. Union of India & Ors.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 1322