New Delhi, May 28(HS): The Supreme Court has found DDA officials guilty of contempt for illegally cutting down trees in the Southern Ridge of Delhi for the purpose of road widening. A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant ordered a fine of ₹25,000 each on the DDA officials responsible for this contemptuous action. The Vice Chairman of the DDA stated in his affidavit that 642 trees were cut down without his knowledge. After considering this affidavit, the Supreme Court stated that DDA can no longer be trusted.

The Supreme Court has also issued detailed guidelines for DDA and Delhi government officials. A three-member committee has been constituted by the Supreme Court, which will recommend ways to promote plantation and increase green cover in Delhi to DDA and the Delhi government.

The Supreme Court had heard a contempt petition filed against DDA Vice Chairman Subhasish Panda regarding the mass cutting of trees in the Southern Ridge area of Delhi. The court expressed its displeasure on May 16, 2024, over Panda's misleading affidavit and issued a contempt notice. The DDA Vice Chairman had stated in his affidavit that 642 trees were cut down without his knowledge. After reviewing this affidavit, the Supreme Court remarked that DDA can no longer be trusted.

Justice AS Oka, a member of the bench hearing the case, noted that he has been a judge in constitutional court for over 20 years, but has never seen such a misleading affidavit. The court stated that despite being aware that not a single tree would be cut down without court permission, tree cutting continued for ten days.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar