SC takes strict action in Delhi tree felling case, DDA officer held guilty of contempt; fine imposed.

The Supreme Court has given its verdict in the case of the felling of trees in the protected Ridge area of ​​​​Delhi. The Supreme Court has held the officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) guilty of contempt for felling trees in the Ridge area of ​​​​the capital. A bench of Justice Suryakant and Justice N Kotishwar Singh has given this verdict in the tree-felling case.

However, the court also admitted that this felling was done for the purpose of widening the road. Justice Suryakant and Justice N.K. Singh's division bench said during the hearing, DDA officials have not taken the permission of the Supreme Court before allowing the felling of trees in the area and have committed contempt of court, which was necessary under a 1996 judgment.

When is the case?

This case is of February 3, 2024 last year, when trees were cut in the Ridge area to widen the road to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS) in Maidangarhi.

The bench passed the judgment on a contempt petition alleging violation of the Supreme Court verdict on the felling of trees and deliberate non-compliance of orders by Delhi LG and IAS officer Subhasish Panda as DDA chairman and vice-chairman.

Rs 25,000 fine imposed on DDA officials

The bench said the matter falls in the category of administrative misjudgment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on DDA officials. The court also asked the DDA to levy a tax on rich persons living in the Ridge area who have benefited from the road widening.

A committee formed for afforestation.

The court further constituted a three-member committee to oversee the comprehensive afforestation plan and directed the panel to ensure dense plantation of trees on both sides of the approach road. On January 21, the court had reserved its order, saying it needed to look into the gravity of the contempt alleged in the petitions.