The Supreme Court on Wednesday held officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) guilty of contempt for felling over a thousand trees in the ecologically sensitive Ridge area of the capital, in violation of previous court orders banning such activity. The court, however, ruled out any malafide intention behind the act and categorized it as “administrative misjudgement.”
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order while hearing a contempt plea that cited non-compliance with its earlier orders, including a 1996 ruling and a March 4, 2024 order, both banning tree felling in the Ridge area. The plea specifically named Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and former DDA Vice-Chairman Subhasish Panda for allegedly allowing the illegal felling of approximately 1,100 trees to widen the approach road to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS) Hospital.
Noting that the tree cutting commenced on February 16, 2024, even before a formal application was moved—and which was later dismissed—the court concluded that the action amounted to contempt, though not rooted in ill intent. Accordingly, it imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on DDA officials while sparing the LG and DDA Vice-Chairman from personal penalties.
In a significant move, the court directed the DDA to undertake an extensive afforestation program to mitigate the environmental loss. It also ordered the formation of a three-member committee to monitor the afforestation plan, with the mandate to ensure dense tree cover along both sides of the newly widened road.
Additionally, the top court instructed the DDA to levy a one-time charge on affluent residents of the Ridge area who directly benefited from the road expansion project.
This order follows the Supreme Court’s earlier observations in January 2024, where it had expressed concern over the gravity of the alleged violations and sought personal affidavits from senior DDA officials.
The court’s judgment reaffirms the legal protection accorded to Delhi’s Ridge area, a crucial green lung of the city, and underscores the responsibility of urban planning authorities to uphold environmental safeguards.
