'Recognize Trees As Living Entities' : SC Issues Notices On Plea Against Felling Of Trees In UP [Read Petition ]

The petition filed by Sheela Barse through Advocate Prashant Padmanabhan pleaded the court to recognize trees as "Living Entities", entitled to protection under Article 32, 14, 19, 21 and 48A of the Constitution. It states that "unmindful" felling of trees is against intergenerational equity and against the right to life and existence of not just humans but other living beings including trees.

"All living beings, plants, trees, birds, vegetation depending on such eco system have Right to Life and it cannot be curtailed for the selfish human interest. None of these Living Beings are capable of defending their Right to Life and it is this Court which has always stood for the Right to life of every living being on earth," the Petitioner asserted.

Thus the Petitioner has prayed for specific directions to the state government as well as the Defence Ministry, restraining them from inflicting any damage or felling, uprooting, cutting, or burning trees.

The three-judge bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant has issued notices to the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the Ministry of Defence and other respondents in the petition.

Last month, the Lucknow Development Authority had asked the Lucknow Nagar Nigam to remove trees from Hanuman Setu to the Nishatganj Bridge in Lucknow, and handover the cleared land to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The Petitioner has prayed the court to direct the Central government and all State Governments to formulate policies so that trees are not cut for future events. She also prayed for directions to the NGT to work out a plan so that trees are not removed henceforth for any project.

The plea contends that "Violence is not just physical violence but also curtailing the gifts of nature to future generations. Cutting of huge number of trees is an inter-generational injustice which must be stopped forever". It has been prayed that in case a tree poses danger to life, due to its age, etc., its felling must be videographed by the entity concerned, in the presence of Collector of the District.

The Petitioner also pointed out that most of such decisions were taken in the dark of the nights and hence major news reporting channels should select journalists for embedding, to provide coverage all round the clock. She asserted that there is an established procedure to authorize few journalists to accompany action teams to such sites.

The plea cited various incidents of mass felling of tress, including the recent felling at Aarey forest in Mumbai, and sought directions to the Government of India and all state governments/administrators of Union Territories, to abandon the plan of destruction of trees for any purpose whatsoever unless it meets expert scrutiny.

The bench has now posted the matter for hearing on January 9, 2020.

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