No more trees to be cut in Mumbai’s Aarey without SC permission, rules top court

The order came after the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) told the court that there was no pending proposal to cut more trees in the area. The SC had asked the Maharashtra government to inform if there was any proposal to fell more trees in Aarey.

The SC listed the hearing next on March 5.

On October 4, 2019, the Bombay HC dismissed petitions challenging the decision of the BMC’s Tree Authority to allow felling of 2,185 trees, and transplantation of 460, on a 33-hectare land at Aarey for the construction of a depot for the Metro Phase 3 project. Following the HC order, the felling of trees began on October 4 night itself. This led to protests and even saw tensions between the then ruling allies BJP and Shiv Sena.

Subsequently, the SC took cognisance of a letter by some law students, who raised the issue and registered it as a Public Interest Litigation. Hearing it, the SC ordered a status quo.

In April 2023, the SC imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on MMRCL for trying to “overreach” its order permitting the felling of only 84 trees and instead cutting down 177.