The Delhi High Court has recently stayed the cutting of a 60-year-old peepal tree in Inderpuri following a letter petition filed by Senior Advocate N. Hariharan, whose house is located in the same lane as the said tree.
A single-judge bench of Justice Rekha Palli granted the stay, stating: “I am of the view that grave and irreparable harm will be caused not only to the environment but also to the residents of the locality if the said tree is permitted to be cut without examining petitioner’s plea that the alleged action is not backed by a any valid order.”
The Court had directed the NDMC, the Delhi Police and the Office of Deputy Conservator of Forests to ensure that the aforementioned tree located outside House No. A-7, Inderpuri, New Delhi, is not removed or harmed in any manner.
The petition had been listed upon an urgent mentioning before the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. Advocate Abhinav S. Aggarwal, appearing for NDMC, had submitted that an order has been passed by the Office of Deputy Conservator of Forests, permitting relocation of the said tree. He had conceded that he was not in a position to give any details of the above-mentioned order.
Advocate Gautam Narayan, appearing on behalf of Delhi Police, submitted that he was not in a position to inform the Court about any such order. The Court has directed the petitioner to file a formal petition incorporating the relevant facts and grounds, in accordance with the Rules by November 9, 2021. The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 11.
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