Delhi HC Slaps Contempt Notice on Forest Official Over JNU Tree Felling

The Delhi High Court issued a contempt notice to the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), South Division, for allowing the cutting of two trees and transplanting 132 on the JNU campus, violating a court undertaking in the case of Bhavreen Kandhari v CD Singh and Ors.

Justice Jasmeet Singh noted that the court was not informed of the permissions granted by the Delhi Forest Department even though the issue was addressed four days after the felling occurred.

The order stemmed from a case on non-compliance with the Court’s 2022 directive requiring tree officers to justify the felling of even a single tree. Despite these instructions, felling was permitted 22 times between May and August 2022.

On August 31, 2023, the Delhi government assured the Court that no tree felling permissions for individuals would be granted until the next hearing, and any essential project permissions would be reported to the Court.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the Court noted that trees were felled and transplanted on April 29 for a building project at the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM), Old JNU Campus.

The Court noted an application by the Forest Division, which was later withdrawn, seeking clarity on whether tree felling permissions should be reported to the Court or reviewed by it. This application included an affidavit from the DCF South.

The Court clarified that its prior observations did not grant blanket permission to the DCF to allow tree cutting for important projects. Consequently, the Court found that the DCF prima facie violated the August 2023 order and warranted contempt proceedings.

The Court has asked the DCF to explain why contempt action should not be initiated against him. The next hearing is on July 5.