The Supreme Court has recently agreed to hear a plea that seeks to prevent the Delhi government from allowing the felling of trees in the national capital without the Court’s permission.
The application, which cites concerns over the alarming rate of tree cutting in Delhi—5 trees being felled every hour—also urges the Court to restrict the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change from approving forest diversions in the city without its approval.
The plea came before a bench of Justices A.S. Oka and A.G. Masih on Friday, and the Court has directed the Delhi government and other concerned parties to respond by November 22.
The petition further calls for the formation of an expert committee, chaired by a retired Supreme Court or Delhi High Court judge, to assess the tree protection measures in place in Delhi. This committee is expected to submit its recommendations on how to better preserve and protect the city’s trees and forests.
The application cites a February 2023 order by the Delhi High Court, which revealed that, based on data from the Delhi Forest Department, 5 trees are felled every hour in the city. The plea seeks to restrain the Delhi government from permitting further tree felling without obtaining approval from the Supreme Court.
The petition also references the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA) of 1994, which mandates the preservation of trees in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
According to the application, the procedural safeguards laid out in the Act—such as ensuring that tree preservation takes precedence over tree felling—have been violated. The plea argues that the tree authority, which is responsible for protecting trees, has failed in its duties. The authority has met only eight times since its inception in 1995, despite the law requiring it to meet every three months.
The application emphasizes the importance of preserving fully grown and heritage trees, pointing out that such trees cannot be replaced easily and play a vital role in the environment. It argues that safeguarding Delhi’s existing green cover is more crucial than ever.
Additionally, the petition highlights that Delhi’s current forest and tree cover falls significantly short of national targets. The National Forest Policy mandates that one-third of India’s land area should be covered by forests or trees, but Delhi’s green cover stands at just 23%, far below the required 33%. According to the India State of Forest Report 2021, Delhi’s forest cover is 13.15% and its tree cover is 9.91%.
The matter now awaits further hearings, with the Court expected to review the case and the proposed measures for the preservation of Delhi’s green spaces.
