Read Time: 04 minutes

Synopsis

The Supreme Court today has asked the Chairperson of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), to file an affidavit explaining which officers of the DDA should be held liable for cutting trees in Delhi's Ridge Forest area in violation of court orders.

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

Chief Justice of India has accordingly 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.

Today, the 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 observed today that these trees were felled despite earlier orders to preserve such trees to protect the pristine nature of the area. 

The affidavit filed by the DDA Chairman shall also explain how the timber felled has been dealt with and steps taken to attribute accountability to the officials who were in breach of directions of this court.

Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the Delhi maintained that the DDA Chairman/ LG had no role to play and was only a signing authority in a process.

"Before we take action, we want action to be taken by DDA - which means, disciplinary proceedings, criminal proceedings and attaching of accountability," CJI Chandrachud said today before closing the matter for the day.