The Supreme Court, on December 19, issued a series of directives to strengthen tree preservation in Delhi under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih emphasized that permissions to fell trees should be granted only as exceptions, aligning with the Act’s primary objective of preservation.
To ensure stricter oversight, the Court ruled that permissions for felling 50 or more trees, granted by Tree Officers under Sections 8 and 9 of the Act, must receive prior approval from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) before being implemented.
The Court mandated Tree Officers to immediately forward such permissions to the CEC, which will then scrutinize and decide on their validity. Additionally, compensatory afforestation requirements must be fulfilled before tree felling begins.
The Court also addressed the lack of a tree census in Delhi, directing the Tree Authority to appoint the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in collaboration with experts to conduct the census.
A formal order regarding the census, along with methodology and timelines, must be filed by February 10, 2025, with funding provided by the Government of India.
To prevent misuse of the “deemed permissions” provision under Section 9(4), the Court clarified that no such permissions would be valid without prior approval from the Court.
Tree Officers must also explore alternatives, such as pruning, and avoid mechanical approvals of compensatory afforestation proposals.
The Court expressed concern over inadequate compliance with afforestation obligations and directed Tree Officers to verify survival rates of past plantations, submitting a report by February 2025.
Additionally, it called for the evaluation of infrastructure for Tree Officers and the Tree Authority by March 2025.
These measures aim to ensure accountability, prevent environmental degradation, and enhance green cover in Delhi.
If you enjoyed reading this article then please share it and bookmark our website for latest updates.
