Delhi High Court Stays Felling Of Trees In Central Ridge, Orders Removal Of Garbage

The Delhi High Court has directed that no further felling of trees or removal of shrubs and other bushes shall take place in the Central Ridge in the national capital, without the permission of the Court.

The court has also directed the Forest Department and other local authorities to ensure that no dumping of garbage or any other waste material is carried out in the Central Ridge.

“The concerned authorities are directed to forthwith take action and remove all the garbage and waste material from the Central Ridge,” Justice Mini Pushkarna said.

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. Malcha Mahal is a Tuglaq era hunting lodge situated inside the Central Ridge.

The court noted that despite the undertaking given by the forest officials, large scale felling of trees and clearing of forest land was taking place in the Central Ridge.

Looking at the photographs, the court said that burning of the area in Central Ridge has taken place, due to which not only the trees, but also the shrubs have been destroyed, leaving only vacant land.

“The photographs also show large scale dumping of garbage in the Central Ridge. This is a very serious state of affairs,” the court said.

It added that the Central Ridge cannot be allowed to be degenerated by felling of trees and removal of the shrubs, when the city is already “grappling with the pressing issue of rising pollution levels, which have attained dangerous proportions.”

Justice Pushkarna also observed that the Central Ridge “which is our green heritage” is being used as a dumping ground of garbage and other waste materials.

Observing that the Central Ridge provides not only the precious green cover in Delhi but is also valuable for maintenance of the environment balance, the court ordered:

“Considering the aforesaid grave lapses in maintaining the precious green cover in the Central Ridge, the Forest Department is directed to submit an explanation as to how and in what manner, the felling of trees and dumping of garbage and other waste materials, has been allowed to take place in the Central Ridge.”

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

The matter will now be heard on May 24.

Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Gautam Narayan with

Ms. Prabhsahay Kaur and Mr. Aditya N. Prasad, Amicus Curiae

Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Kirtiman Singh, CGSC with Mr. Waize Ali Noor, Mr. Varun Rajawat, Mr. Kartik Baijal, Ms. Vidhi Jain and Ms. Shreya V Mehra, Advocates for UOI; Mr. Sameer Vashisht, ASC, GNCTD

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.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 580

Click here to read order