SC blocks Ridge tree felling until DDA plants 167K saplings

Supreme Court Restricts Tree Felling in Delhi Ridge

The Supreme Court on Monday informed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) that no tree felling would be allowed in the Delhi Ridge until it fully complies with a previous order to plant 167,000 saplings across the city.

The case is scheduled for January 19.

This directive followed an application from the DDA requesting permission to fell an additional 473 trees to widen a road in Chhatarpur, which leads to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS).

Court’s Stance on Tree Cutting

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that no new tree cutting would be permitted unless the court is satisfied that its earlier afforestation orders have been followed. “We will not allow anything to happen unless we are satisfied that our directions have been complied with,” the bench remarked.

In May of last year, the Supreme Court directed the DDA to plant 167,000 saplings as compensation for trees that were illegally cut down for a road expansion project in Chhatarpur.

On May 28, 2025, the court concluded contempt proceedings against the DDA vice-chairman and other officials for unauthorized tree felling. The court had previously found the DDA guilty of contempt for cutting down over 1,000 trees in the Ridge but chose not to impose punitive measures, citing the need for improved connectivity to the CAPFIMS hospital.

Details Required from DDA

The bench requested the DDA to provide information on the status of the sapling plantation, the survival rate of already planted saplings, and details on the species planned for planting across 18 identified land parcels.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the DDA along with senior advocate Maninder Singh, stated that the existing 14-meter-wide road needs widening for better ambulance and medical supply access to the hospital. Mehta assured the court that a detailed response regarding afforestation would be submitted after gathering instructions.

The bench, which also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi, emphasized the need for complete information on the work at all 18 afforestation sites. “The requirement of the hospital has already been considered by us in our (earlier) judgment. At the same time, our other directions are of equal importance,” the court noted.

Afforestation Timeline and Requirements

Singh informed the court that the afforestation effort would be completed by February 28. He mentioned that 185 acres across 18 areas had already been handed over, with fencing work currently in progress.

However, the bench sought more clarity, asking the DDA for site-specific details and photographs. “How many saplings have been planted and at which site? You must produce the photographs,” it instructed.

According to the May 28 order, the first compliance report was submitted jointly by the DDA and the Delhi forest department on January 1. The report, presented through advocate Mudit Gupta, indicated that plantation would start in March and finish by the end of that month.

The court expressed dissatisfaction, stating that plantation activities should have already begun. “You cannot plant one lakh saplings in one month. Digging has to be done in advance depending on the species and soil type,” the bench remarked, humorously adding that it did not want the 18 land parcels to become “AI-generated forests.”

Expert Committee Oversight

The DDA informed the court that a three-member expert committee is supervising the plantation. The committee includes former Indian Forest Service officer Ishwar Singh, former principal chief conservator of forests Sunil Limaye, and environmentalist Pradip Kishen, who have inspected the sites.

The proceedings originated from a contempt petition filed by Delhi resident Bindu Kapurea. She referenced a 1996 Supreme Court ruling in MC Mehta vs Union of India, which requires prior approval from the apex court for any tree felling in the ecologically sensitive Ridge area, known as Delhi’s green lung.

Kapurea, represented by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan and advocate Manan Verma, informed the court that the expert committee raised serious concerns about sapling survival rates and opposed the DDA’s plan to move saplings from their current location in Chhatarpur.

Senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, assisting the court as amicus curiae, expressed his inability to assist effectively, stating he had not received the joint report from the DDA and the forest department.

In November of last year, the court allowed the forest department until March to conduct the plantation, noting that winter conditions were not suitable for planting. The expert committee had already finalized the list of native species, plantation methods, survival monitoring, and post-plantation care, which have been shared with the forest department.

To prevent future violations, the court mandated that all orders or notifications regarding tree felling, afforestation, or construction with ecological implications must clearly disclose any pending cases before the Supreme Court.