The Delhi High Court has issued a contempt notice to the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) for the South Division for allegedly authorizing the felling and transplantation of trees on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in violation of a prior court directive. This development was reported by IANS.
The issue traces back to a 2022 court order requiring detailed justifications from tree officers for the felling of even a single tree. Allegations surfaced that these stringent guidelines were ignored, with tree felling permissions being granted on 22 occasions between May and August 2022, raising concerns about compliance and oversight.
On August 31, 2023, the Delhi government had assured the court that no new permissions for tree felling would be granted until the next hearing, except for critical projects, which were to be reported to the court. Despite this, unauthorized tree felling and transplantation were carried out on April 29, 2024, for a construction project at the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) on the Old JNU Campus.
Justice Jasmeet Singh highlighted a significant lapse in communication from the Delhi Forest Department, which failed to inform the court about the permission granted on May 3 for the felling of two trees and the transplantation of 123 others. This omission came to light during a recent court hearing.
The Forest Division had previously submitted an application seeking clarification on whether permissions needed to be simply intimated to the court or formally approved by it. This application, backed by an affidavit from the DCF, South Division, was subsequently withdrawn. Justice Singh emphasized that the court’s earlier observations did not constitute blanket approval for DCFs to authorize tree cutting for significant projects, contradicting the August 2023 order.
Consequently, the court has found the DCF prima facie guilty of contempt. The officer has been asked to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him, marking a critical juncture in the ongoing efforts to enforce environmental regulations and judicial directives concerning urban forestry management.
The case continues to unfold as the court awaits a response from the implicated official, underscoring the importance of adherence to legal and environmental standards in urban development projects.