Delhi High Court Sets Aside Conviction Of Cop In Contempt Case Over Damages To Trees

The Delhi High Court has set aside the conviction of a police officer in a contempt case for damaging trees in the national capital during construction work in 2021.

Justice Mini Pushkarna also discharged the notice of contempt issued to the cop as well as three officers of Public Works Department (PWD). All four officials were convicted for contempt in June 2022.

“...it is seen that remedial measures have been undertaken by the respondents in the form of planting trees all around Delhi. In fact, this court has also placed on record the appreciation for the respondents for taking steps in increasing the green cover in Delhi,” the court said.

The court disposed of a contempt plea moved in 2021 against the officials alleging willful and deliberate disobedience of the judicial orders by them in carrying out the construction work.

In May last year, the court had remitted the sentence of the three PWD officials after they planted more than 800 trees in and around the Supreme Court, as well as on the stretch of Mathura Road and other other areas in the Central and East Delhi.

The police official had also undertaken to plant 100 trees in the city as a remedial measure.

“This court has perused the various orders passed by this court, which clearly show that substantive compliances have been undertaken by the respondents. The respondents have also tendered their unconditional apology to this court for delay in the compliances in terms of the aforesaid orders,” the court said while closing the matter.

Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Aditya N. Prasad, Adv

Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Kamal Mohan Gupta, Mr. Amber Shehbaz Ansasri and Mr. Gorakh Nath Yadav, Advs. for R-1; Mr. Avishkar Singhvi, Mr. Naved Ahmed, Mr. Vivek Kumar and Mr. Deokinandan Sharma, Advs. for GNCTD; Mr. Jatan Singh, Court

Commissioner; Mr. Sanjay Mishra and Mr. Stuti Mishra, Advs. for R-4 along with R-4 in person; Mr. Anupam Verma, Mr. Nikhil Sharma & Mr. Aditya Dhingra, Advs; Mr. Sarosh, Adv. for CFD; Mr. Rishikesh Kumar (ASC-GNCTD) with Ms. Sheenu Priya, Mr. Atik Gill, Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shukla, Mr. Sudhir & Mr. Sumit Choudhary, Advs; Mr. Udit Malik, ASC (Civil) for GNCTD with Mr. Vishal Chanda, Adv

Title: NEERAJ SHARMA v. VINAY SHEEL SAXENA & ORS.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 67

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