PWD Engineer-in-Chief must appear virtually: HC over non-compliance of orders on roadside tree plantation

On December 18 last year, the High Court had directed special secretaries of the PWD and the forest department to file an affidavit, explaining why the trees were not looked after in spite of assurance given to that effect, after it was then submitted by Prasad then that over 400 trees planted in South Extension had died due lack of supervision, maintenance, and parking of cars.

Prasad on Tuesday also submitted that while the forest department had filed an affidavit in response to the December 18 order, PWD did not file theirs.
“Orders passed by the High Court are required to be implemented in its true letter and spirit. Let the engineer-in-chief join the proceedings on the next date of hearing through video-conferencing,” directed the High Court.

Prasad then informed the High Court that there had been a large-scale pruning of trees in Defence Colony on Tuesday and in Panchsheel Enclave last month. He submitted that the Delhi government’s guidelines, allowing pruning of tree branches of a girth of up to 15.7 cm without the tree officer’s specific permission that had been set aside by the court on May 29, 2023.

Justice Singh, thereafter, directed the counsel for the forest department to get instructions on the pruning of trees in the two said areas. The court also called for an affidavit to indicate permissions granted for pruning and the pre and post-facto inspection of the pruning by the civic departments concerned.

The High Court also asked the forest department to start procuring an adequate number of trees within a week, starting Tuesday, to be available for plantation meant to begin next month. The matter is now listed on March 6.