No Permission To Be Granted For Felling Of Trees To Construct Houses In Delhi: High Court

The Delhi High Court on Thursday said that no permission shall be granted to anyone by the city authorities for felling of trees for construction of houses in the national capital.

Justice Jasmeet Singh said that its earlier interim order, recording the Delhi Government’s stand that no permission will be granted to any individual for felling of trees and that any permission required for important projects will be intimated to court, shall continue till October 06.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Bhavreen Kandhari seeking contempt action against the officials for not following court directions passed in April last year requiring the Tree Officers to spell out reasons for permitting the felling of trees in Delhi. The plea relates to the issue of preservation of trees in the national capital.

The court directed the Delhi Government to file a detailed response indicating the status of transplanted and replanted trees in Delhi.

While granting two weeks’ time for filing the status report, the court said that the response must also include whether the process of transplantation or replantation was successful.

'In the meantime, the directions contained in the August 31 order shall continue. No permission shall be granted for felling of trees in respect of construction of houses,” the court said.

In November last year, Retired Justice Najmi Waziri directed Delhi’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to ensure that the orders permitting the tree felling, under Delhi Preservation Of Trees Act, 1994, are uploaded within a period of 48 hours on the official website.

Case Title: BHAVREEN KANDHARI v. SHRI C. D. SINGH AND ORS.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 829