Forest dept nod to fell trees for housing project in Delhi’s Morphological Ridge was fake, SC told
This came to light in a July 10 counter affidavit filed before the SC by the Department of Forests and Wildlife's Deputy Conservator of Forests/Tree Officer (West Division)
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The court will hear the matter next on July 21 (Archive)The Delhi Forest department has told the Supreme Court that āfake permissionā was issued in the name of the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests or the Tree Officer (West Division) to fell trees in a āmorphological ridgeā land ā an ecologically sensitive zone — in Vasant Kunj for a housing project.
This came to light in a July 10 counter affidavit filed before the SC by the Department of Forests and Wildlife’s Deputy Conservator of Forests/Tree Officer (West Division) in response to a plea seeking contempt of court proceedings against it for felling trees and levelling a piece of land in Vasant Kunj for the project.
The plea filed by environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari, through advocate Manan Verma, contended that said land is a morphological ridge, which is protected by the SCās May 9, 1996 order, and as such would require the court’s prior permission before any diversion can be made.
āThat to the best of the petitionerās knowledge, no permission has been sought from this honāble court before undertaking the said contemptuous activities… It is also evident that the officials of the Forest department, GNCTD, and the Ridge Management Board took no action to prevent the said activity or stop the same,ā the plea said.
Responding to this, the counter affidavit filed by the Tree Officer (West Division) said the land on which the alleged construction activities were being carried out falls in the South Forest Division. āIt is pertinent to mention that it had come to attention… that a fake permission was issued for tree felling in the name of the office of Deputy Conservator of Forests/Tree Officer West Forest Division, which was found issued to the owner of the plot…,ā it added.
It further said that the West Division official āhad written to the Vasant Kunj police station SHO to take cognisance of the issue and register an FIR under Section 173 of Bharatiya Nagarik Surkasha Sahinta”. The affidavit added that a reply was received on February 17 from the SHO, āthrough Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI)… that the alleged forged permission is illegibleā.
The affidavit added, ā…it is also informed by the ASI that the location cannot be found.ā
During questioning, the plot owner ārefused the allegation regarding forged permission for felling/damaging of treesā, the department said.
āThe ASI has requested the original copy of the forged permission to process the matter further; otherwise, the complaint shall be closed,ā it added.
āIt is pertinent to mention that in response to the report of the ASI, a letter has been issued to the SHO… on 13.03.2025… stating that the earlier provided copy of the forged permission/documents is the only copy which is available in this office,ā the department said.
The court will hear the matter next on July 21.
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