Plant 10 trees; look after them for 10 years: Delhi High Court directs petitioners while quashing FIR

The Delhi High Court while quashing an FIR ordered one Latoori Singh and the other petitioners to plant 10 trees in their locality and to look after them with all proper care for a further period of 10 years.

The bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh said that the trees will be planted near their residence in consultation with the Investigation Officer concerned who shall inform them about the place for planting the same in consultation with the Horticulture Department of MCD.

“The needful shall be done within 4 weeks from today. The yearly status report of the plantation will be filed by petitioners with photographs. The first status report shall be filed by the I.O. concerned within six days from today.” the court ordered.

The FIR was registered against a group of people due to a fight over petting a pig. The nature injuries suffered by the complainant were ‘simple’ in nature. Later, during the pendency of the proceedings, the court was informed that the parties had arrived at a settlement. The court observed that the police had investigated the whole matter and had also filed the chargesheet. Valuable time of the Judiciary has also been wasted, Court said.

Court observed, “Not only the police have investigated the whole matter but also have filed the chargesheet. Considerable time of the police has also been wasted on issues which should not have escalated to this extent. In addition, the valuable judicial time has also been wasted.”

Therefore, the court stated that since the petitioners were from a humble background, financial costs will not be imposed but each of them would have to plant trees in their locality and have to look after them with all proper care for a further period of 10 years.

Case Title: Latoori Singh & Ors. vs. The State (NCT of Delhi) & Ors.