Delhi High Court on Thursday made it clear that no tree felling permission will be given for construction of houses.
The court reiterated its August 31 order, when it had recorded a Delhi government’s assurance that no permission to fell trees for any individuals would be granted and any permission required for important projects would be intimated to the court till the next date of hearing. The court said the same arrangement will continue.
Granting two weeks’ time to Delhi government to furnish a detailed report on the status of transplanted and replanted trees in the capital, Justice Jasmeet Singh also wanted to know if the process of transplantation or replantation was successful.
“In the meantime, the directions contained in the August 31 order shall continue. No permission shall be granted for felling of trees in respect of construction of houses,” HC said and listed the matter for further hearing on October 6.
The court was hearing a petition seeking contempt action against the officers who, despite clear directions of the court in an April 2022 order that required them to “spell out the reasons for felling of even a single tree”, were not complying with it.
Petitioner Bhavreen Khandari, through advocate Aditya N Prasad, filed an application seeking early hearing of the contempt plea, stating that despite the April 2022 order, the authorities were “recklessly granting permission for felling of trees.”