‘People Of Delhi Gasping For Breath, Not Acceptable’: High Court Expresses Displeasure Over Concretization Inside Central Ridge

The Delhi High Court on Thursday expressed displeasure over encroachment in the Central Ridge in the national capital and asked the authorities to take corrective measures or face contempt action.

“This will not happen. In case you don’t rectify and take corrective measures, we will initiate contempt. Get instructions by Monday. This is not acceptable. Nothing happens on the Central Ridge,” Justice Jasmeet Singh told the Deputy Conservator of Forest, West Forest Division who joined the hearing via video conferencing.

Central Ridge, which extends to over 864 hectares, is located in the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor in Delhi. It was made into a Reserved Forest in the year 1914 and stretches from just south of Sadar Bazaar to Dhaula Kuan.

The court was hearing a contempt plea wherein Amicus Curiae, Advocates Gautam Narayan and Aditya N Prasad, filed a brief raising certain issues pertaining to the cases where directions have been passed to parties to plant trees in the national capital.

Pursuant to yesterday’s order, all DCFs were joined in the hearing via video conferencing. Addressing the officials, Justice Singh put forth the issues raised by the amicus curiae.

“One is that in addition to the areas where institutional plantation of trees is taking place, identify some other areas where it is to take place. Two, there are other funds in the High Court UCO bank account which is to be utilized for planting trees exclusively, which is not utilized. Three, what is this encroachment in central ridge?” Justice Singh said.

He added, “When there are orders passed by the Supreme Court that nothing will happen [at the Central Ridge]. How can you make a road inside? It is not acceptable. How many trees have been cut here?”

Responding to court’s query, DCF West Forest Division submitted that the authorities have been undertaking a project for eco-restoration of the Central Ridge which involves the process of pruning.

However, the court questioned the officer as to how was there concretization inside the Ridge involving use of road roller and barricades.

“What about the road? How can a roller be there inside the Central Ridge? What is the pavement you are making? What is this concretization…What are the barricades? Why is this road being made? Pruning of trees does not require road roller or dumper. Why are they there? How is a JCB in the Central Ridge?,” the court said.

As the officer submitted that the road in question is being used to reach an ISRO earth station situated inside the Ridge, Narayan said that it was a different road and not the one claimed by the DCF.

“Remove the concrete immediately. No concretization in the Ridge. Make a kaccha road. What is the problem?” the court told the officer.

Justice Singh asked the DCF to give a report regarding the details of the construction of the road inside the Ridge and asked the authorities to take corrective measures in the meantime.

“Give a report on what road you are making. You don’t have to decorate the Central Ridge. Please understand. People of Delhi are gasping for breath…This will not happen. In case you don’t rectify and take corrective measures, we will initiate contempt. Get instructions by Monday,” the court said.

It added, “This is not acceptable. Nothing happens on the Central Ridge. No pruning. You are the best people in the job. We have full faith in you but…nothing else.”

The court adjourned the matter to August 28 and asked the DCF West Forest Division and Conservator of Forests to join the hearing via video conferencing.

Before his retirement in July, Justice Najmi Waziri, while passing his last order on preservation of trees in national capital, had called for monetary contributions from citizens, public spirited individuals and lawyers in “Green Delhi Account”.

The fund was opened after his directions to facilitate plantation of trees in Delhi. On July 13, Justice Waziri was informed by DDA’s counsel that the balance in the account was over Rs. 2.38 crores and that more money was pouring due to various judicial orders. Thereafter, the judge had directed that the monies deposited in the account shall be used for plantation of trees.

In his retirement speech, Justice Waziri said, “20,000 trees are in the process of being planted and we have enough money for 2.5 lakh more trees to be planted which has already kept in the escrow account. And it's an account which we have named “Green Delhi Account.”

Case Title: ANJALI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND SCIENCE THROUGH ITS FOUNDER-CUM-CHAIRMAN DEVENDRA GUPTA v. DR. MONTU M PATEL PRESIDENT PHARMACY COUNCIL OF INDIA &ANR.