SC closes contempt case against development body officials over tree-felling in Delhi Ridge

The Supreme Court on Wednesday closed contempt proceedings against officials of the Delhi Development Authority over the large-scale felling of trees in the national capital’s Ridge area for a road widening project in February 2024, Bar and Bench reported.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh held that the officials had committed contempt by failing to seek the top court’s approval, as mandated under a 1996 ruling, before allowing the tree-felling.

“This is a case of institutional missteps and administrative overreach,” Bar and Bench quoted the court as having said.

However, citing “overwhelming public interest”, the bench refrained from initiating contempt proceedings against the Delhi Development Authority officials and its former Vice Chairperson Subhashish Panda, The Hindu reported.

The trees in the protected ecological area in Delhi were chopped to construct a broader access road to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences, a new tertiary hospital primarily for paramilitary personnel, their families, pensioners and the public, according to the newspaper.

The contempt proceedings had been initiated when the matter was being heard by benches led by Justice BR Gavai, who is now the chief justice, and Justice AS Oka, who has retired, Bar and Bench said.

The ruling on Wednesday also comes as a relief for Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. Although he was not a party to the...

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