Should've been told on first day LG gave order to cut trees: SC on tree felling in ridge
LG V K Saxena in tree feeling in ridge area, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to inform it whether the order to cut trees was passed on basis of LG's oral permission or the agency independently took the decision. The apex court was hearing suo motu (on its own) contempt proceedings against the vice chairman of the DDA over alleged cutting of 1,100 trees in the ridge forest for a road widening project.
Observing that there was a complete non-application of mind by Delhi LG in granting permission for felling of trees, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said it should have been informed on the first day of the hearing itself that the LG already had issued directions for tree felling.
«What troubles us is that everybody has committed a mistake. First day, everybody should have come to the court and said there is a mistake by us. But cover up goes on and on. After four or five orders, truth comes out in the from of DDA officer's affidavit. All have committed the mistake including the Lieutenant Governor. Sorry state of affairs,» the bench said.
The apex court said it realised about the role of LG in the matter when the Attorney General R Venkataramani appeared on his own and said," It was sufficient indication.
The top court said Delhi government is equally at fault in chopping of trees in the ridge area and it must take the blame of illegally granting permission to chop down 422 trees.
It asked the AAP government to come out with a mechanism as to how it will
