You Want People To Live In Gas Chambers? Delhi HC Raps Forest Department For Allowing Tree Felling

On Friday, the Delhi High Court criticised the Forest Department for allowing the felling of trees in the national capital at a time when the air quality is at toxic levels.

"You (forest department) want people to live in gas chambers? You are responsible for the mess that the citizens of Delhi are in today due to air pollution," the HC bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh said while hearing a contempt plea against the Delhi Forest Department for allowing the felling of trees in violation of its directives.

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What is the case?

The petitioner, Bhavreen Kandhari, had sought action against government officers who, despite a clear directive from the court in an April 2022 order, were allegedly not adhering to the requirement of providing reasons for tree felling.

Why Delhi HC restricted felling of trees

The HC had, on September 14, 2023, ordered that no permission shall be granted for the felling of trees to construct houses in the city. In August, the Bench had said that no permission for the felling of trees for any individuals would be granted, and any permission required for important projects would be intimated to the Court.

"There are machines that record the air quality¡­the maximum that it can record is 999. Today, we are touching that," the judge said while adding that sensitivity amongst the forest officials is lacking.

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How forest officials violated HC order

Advocate Aditya N Prasad, appearing for Kandhari, told the court that despite its direction, the forest officials were passing non-reasoned orders allowing the felling of trees in Delhi.

After examining some of the orders passed by the forest officials, the HC observed that they amounted to a violation of its directives.

"This is blatant violation of our orders, this is a dereliction of duty, you are trying shortcuts, cutting corners. This is total disregard of the court's orders," the court said.

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What Delhi government told HC

In August, the Delhi Government had informed the HC that no permission for felling of trees for any individuals would be granted until the next date of hearing, and any required permissions for important projects would be intimated to the court.

While hearing the contempt plea, the HC said on Friday that it was not coming in the way of development; however, it must co-exist with nature and heritage.

"If there is a traffic jam, you will have to widen the roads. But it cannot be that you cut 50 trees around it. If there is no other way, then only you should go ahead no. Trees cannot be removed. You have to find a way. How can colonies be treeless?" Justice Singh said.

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