In a recent development, the Delhi High Court has issued a contempt notice to the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), South Division, for permitting the felling of two trees and the transplantation of 132 others at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus. This action was in direct violation of a court order from August 2023, which strictly regulated tree felling activities in the area.
Justice Jasmeet Singh highlighted the breach, noting that the permission granted by the Delhi Forest Department was not disclosed to the Court, despite the matter being taken up shortly after the incident.
The case revolves around the Court’s earlier directives from 2022, which mandated that tree officers provide justifications for any tree felling. Despite this, permissions were granted multiple times between May and August 2022. The Court had been assured by the Delhi government that no further permissions for tree felling would be given without the Court’s notification, especially for critical projects.
On April 29, the unauthorized tree felling and transplantation took place to facilitate the construction of a building at the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) at the Old JNU Campus. The Forest Division had later filed and subsequently withdrawn an application seeking clarification on the permissions.
The Court underscored that its previous orders were not to be interpreted as blanket approvals for such activities. Consequently, it found the DCF prima facie guilty of contempt for disregarding the August 2023 order. An explanation has been demanded from the DCF, and the matter is scheduled for further hearing on July 5.
The proceedings saw contributions from various advocates, including Aditya N Prasad, Gauram Narayan, and Prabhsahay Kaur as amici curiae, and numerous representatives for the applicants and respondents.
