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Synopsis

The Supreme Court of India has called for a fresh affidavit from the Chairperson of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and ex-Vice Chairperson Subhashish Panda, seeking a clarification over the date on which the Chairperson was informed about the felling of trees in the Delhi Ridge.

Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi VK Saxena serves as the present Chairman of DDA.

Today, the top court's bench noted that the Chairperson's statement that it was only on 10th June that the Chairperson was apprised of the fact of felling of trees would require further clarification.

"We further call for affidavits specifically from Shri Subhashish Panda former Vice Chairperson of DDA and Chairperson of DDA on above discrepancies. The affidavit be filed in one week. List on Tuesday. We direct a specific disclosure on the specific date they obtained knowledge of the felling of trees.", court has ordered to this end.

CJI Chandrachud further noted today that it was clear that felling of trees took place on or before 16th February. "Now the question arises on whose permission that felling took place...", the bench added.

Earlier Chief Justice of India had sought the DDA Chairman's response on permissions required for cutting the trees, was he informed about permissions being needed, what steps taken as remedial measures and the action taken against erring officers. 

A Bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra is now dealing with a batch of contempt petitions raising concern over felling of 1200 trees in the Delhi ridge.

Originally, two benches led by Justice BR Gavai and Justice AS Oka were hearing two different contempt petitions filed before them, raising contempt of two separate orders passed by the Supreme Court over time.

The CJI later decided to hear the contempt petitions through a bench headed by him.

Last week, CJI clarified that he will not be assigning a bench to hear the case but will be taking it up themselves as a 3-judge bench.

Court also observed that these trees were felled despite earlier orders to preserve such trees to protect the pristine nature of the area. Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the Delhi LG maintained that the DDA Chairman/ LG had no role to play and was only a signing authority in a process.

Case Title: Bindu Kapurea vs. Subhasish Panda