Delhi’s Tree Cutting Probe Faces Legal Scrutiny

Delhi’s Forest Secretary, A.K. Singh, has raised significant legal concerns regarding the formation of a three-member panel by Delhi Ministers to investigate alleged illegal tree cutting in the Ridge area. Singh has argued that the panel’s establishment could potentially violate Supreme Court directives, raising issues of contempt of court.The panel, consisting of Delhi Ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi, and Imran Hussain, summoned top officials including Singh and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Vice-Chairman Subhasish Panda to appear before it, triggering scrutiny over procedural correctness amidst ongoing Supreme Court proceedings.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had chastised the DDA for the felling of 1,100 trees in the Ridge area on February 3, questioning if these actions were authorized by Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena, who also chairs the authority.In response to the panel’s formation, Singh pointed out that an independent fact-finding committee, including experts from the Forest Survey of India, had already submitted its preliminary report to the Supreme Court. He expressed concern that constituting another committee during active court proceedings could be deemed improper and potentially interfere with the judicial process, possibly inviting contempt charges.

Singh highlighted procedural irregularities, noting that the panel was formed without proper authorization from the Council of Ministers or specific directives from the Chief Minister. He emphasized that the move deviated from established government practices, particularly as it pertained to reporting structures within the Delhi government.Meanwhile, sources within the Delhi government indicated that Environment Minister Gopal Rai had requested Singh to submit a report on the tree cutting issue, but Singh had not complied. This has sparked further debate over administrative transparency and accountability.The controversy underscores deeper tensions within Delhi’s administrative framework regarding environmental governance and legal oversight, particularly concerning sensitive issues like urban forestry and conservation efforts in ecologically crucial areas like the Ridge.