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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
SC holds DDA in contempt over tree felling in Ridge, orders afforestation
The Supreme Court on Wednesday held Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials guilty of contempt for tree felling in the capital's Ridge area for widening a road and ordered extensive afforestation. The court, however, noted that there was no malafide intent. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the verdict on contempt plea alleging violation of the 1996 and March 4, 2024, ban on tree felling and deliberate non-compliance of orders on the part of the Delhi LG and IAS officer Subhasish Panda as DDA chairman and vice-chairman respectively. The bench said the case falls in the category of "administrative misjudgement" and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on DDA officials. It spared the DDA chairman and vice-chairman. The top court also asked the DDA to impose a one-time levy on affluent persons residing in the Ridge area who benefitted from the widening of the road. It also formed a three-member committee to oversee the extensive afforestation plan and directed the panel to ensure thick tree cover on both sides of the approach road. Also Read On January 21, the top court said while reserving its order that it needed to see the gravity of contempt alleged to be made in the petitions. It had issued a contempt notice to former DDA vice-chairman Subhasish Panda for felling of trees and directed LG and DDA Chairman V K Saxena to file a personal affidavit detailing actions against erring officials for allegedly illegally felling around 1,100 trees in the Ridge area in February 2024. The trees were felled for widening the approach road to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS) Hospital. The felling of trees reportedly commenced on February 16, 2024, before an application was moved, being ultimately dismissed by an order of March 4, the top court noted. On March 4, the top court refused permission to the DDA to fell 1,051 trees, saying its application was "very vague".
India Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Delhi body officials fined for tree felling in Ridge area, relief for Lt Governor
The Supreme Court on Wednesday held Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials accountable for contempt over felling trees in the Delhi Ridge area, while closing contempt proceedings against the DDA Vice-Chairman Subhasish Panda, observing that he was not holding the post any bench further ordered the DDA officials -- found guilty of initiating a road-widening project in an ecologically sensitive area meant to ease access to the CAPFIMS Paramilitary Hospital -- to pay a hefty fine of Rs 25,000 court held that the actions of the DDA officials clearly amounted to contempt, as it was against an earlier 1996 ruling wherein a clearance from the Supreme Court was required for tree-felling activities. However, while holding the DDA accountable for contempt, the court decided to close the case against errant officers by ordering a fine, noting that it was more of a lapse in judgement on the part of the officials. It further opined that the tree-felling was done for a good purpose, stating that there was no malafide bench ordered afforestation, with the cost to be borne by the DDA, and directed the formation of a three-member committee to safeguard Delhi's green corridor."This is a case of institutional missteps and administrative overreach. It raises strong questions on accountability," the bench order came as a major relief to Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena, who was earlier pulled up by a bench led by Justice AS while the LG was not a party to the contempt case, a bench led by then-Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud subsequently demanded an explanation from LG an affidavit, Saxena stated that he was not informed that court clearance was required for the tree felling until after the process had already the air, the bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, in today's order, directed that any activity connected to tree felling, road construction or with a potential ecological effect "must explicitly mention the pendency of the relevant proceedings before this court." "This is directed so that ignorance is not taken as a defence in future," the bench further observed.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tree felling in Delhi's Ridge area: SC finds DDA in contempt, orders extensive afforestation
The Supreme Court on Wednesday held Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials guilty of contempt for tree felling in the capital's Ridge area for widening a road and ordered extensive afforestation. The court, however, noted that there was no malafide intent. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the verdict on contempt plea alleging violation of the 1996 and March 4, 2024, ban on tree felling and deliberate non-compliance of orders on the part of the Delhi LG and IAS officer Subhasish Panda as DDA chairman and vice-chairman respectively. The bench said the case falls in the category of 'administrative misjudgement' and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on DDA officials. It spared the DDA chairman and vice-chairman. The top court also asked the DDA to impose a one-time levy on affluent persons residing in the Ridge area who benefitted from the widening of the road. It also formed a three-member committee to oversee the extensive afforestation plan and directed the panel to ensure thick tree cover on both sides of the approach road. On January 21, the top court said while reserving its order that it needed to see the gravity of contempt alleged to be made in the petitions. It had issued a contempt notice to former DDA vice-chairman Subhasish Panda for felling of trees and directed LG and DDA Chairman V K Saxena to file a personal affidavit detailing actions against erring officials for allegedly illegally felling around 1,100 trees in the Ridge area in February 2024. The trees were felled for widening the approach road to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS) Hospital. The felling of trees reportedly commenced on February 16, 2024, before an application was moved, being ultimately dismissed by an order of March 4, the top court noted. On March 4, the top court refused permission to the DDA to fell 1,051 trees, saying its application was 'very vague'.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tree felling in Delhi's Ridge area: SC finds DDA in contempt, orders extensive afforestation
The Supreme Court found DDA officials guilty of contempt for illegally felling trees in Delhi's Ridge area to widen a road, despite a ban. While noting no malafide intent, the court imposed a fine and ordered extensive afforestation. A committee will oversee the reforestation, and a levy will be imposed on affluent residents who benefited from the road widening. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Supreme Court on Wednesday held Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials guilty of contempt for tree felling in the capital's Ridge area for widening a road and ordered extensive afforestation . The court, however, noted that there was no malafide intent.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the verdict on contempt plea alleging violation of the 1996 and March 4, 2024, ban on tree felling and deliberate non-compliance of orders on the part of the Delhi LG and IAS officer Subhasish Panda as DDA chairman and vice-chairman bench said the case falls in the category of "administrative misjudgement" and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on DDA officials. It spared the DDA chairman and top court also asked the DDA to impose a one-time levy on affluent persons residing in the Ridge area who benefitted from the widening of the also formed a three-member committee to oversee the extensive afforestation plan and directed the panel to ensure thick tree cover on both sides of the approach January 21, the top court said while reserving its order that it needed to see the gravity of contempt alleged to be made in the had issued a contempt notice to former DDA vice-chairman Subhasish Panda for felling of trees and directed LG and DDA Chairman V K Saxena to file a personal affidavit detailing actions against erring officials for allegedly illegally felling around 1,100 trees in the Ridge area in February trees were felled for widening the approach road to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS) felling of trees reportedly commenced on February 16, 2024, before an application was moved, being ultimately dismissed by an order of March 4, the top court noted. On March 4, the top court refused permission to the DDA to fell 1,051 trees, saying its application was "very vague".
