Delhi High Court Seeks Status Report From Authorities On Existing Deemed Forests, Action Taken On Depletion

The Delhi High Court today 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.

Dealing with the plea concerning preservation of deemed forests in the city, moved by one Neeraj Sharma, Justice Jasmeet Singh also sought response from the authorities on the constitution of a Committee to oversee the preservation.

“The status report shall indicate the deemed forests existing as of today, the action taken for depletion of deemed forests and the constitution of committee to oversee the preservation of deemed forests in Delhi. List on December 15,” the court ordered.

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.

Advocate Aditya N Prasad appeared for Sharma

Case Title: Neeraj Sharma v. Union of India & Ors., W.P.(C) 7253/2023