Will Ensure Training To Sensitize Officers, Personnel Of Government Organizations For Protection Of Trees: Delhi Govt Informs High Court

The Delhi Government on Wednesday informed the Delhi High Court that it will ensure training to sensitize officers and the personnel of government organisations regarding the need to protect trees in terms of the previous orders by Court.

This comes after the Court had last month told the Delhi Government as well as the Delhi Police to ensure due compliance regarding sensitization and training of officers and personnel responsible for ensuring protection of trees.

Justice Najmi Waziri was today apprised by the counsel appearing for the Delhi Government that it had received the training module email and that training will be ensured to be imparted to the officers concerned.

However, since no counter affidavit was filed by the Delhi Government in terms of the previous order, time was sought from the Court to file the same highlighting the progress on the issue.

"Learned counsel for GNCTD has submitted that a training module has been prepared and training will be ensured. Workshops and other methods shall be set in motion shortly to sensitize officers, personnel of government organisations for the need to protect trees in terms of the earlier orders passed by this Court," the Court recorded in the order.

The Court was dealing with a petition alleging that 50 full grown trees were cut down without permission of the Tree Officer and that a large-scale construction was undertaken, which according to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation was unauthorized.

Previously, perusing the photographs available on record, the Court had noted that the rampant cutting of fully grown trees and large scale construction being carried out could not have escaped the attention of the local police as well as the concerned authorities.

During the course of hearing today, the counsel appearing for SDMC told the Court that the corporation shall ensure that no further construction will be carried out except in accordance with law.

The Court also took note of the fact that no response was filed by the Delhi police in terms of the previous order and directed the ACP concerned to remain present in the Court on the next date of hearing.

The matter will now be heard on February 2, 2022.

The petitioner was represented by Advocates KC Mittal and Yugansh Mittal.

Title: PRATAP SINGH PARMAR v. DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY& ORS.