The Delhi High Court has designated the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government as the lead authority to formulate procedures for preventing the felling or transplantation of trees on the North Campus of Delhi University amid its expansion or infrastructure development.

Justice Jasmeet Singh instructed the Chief Secretary to convene all relevant stakeholders, including the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC), Amici Curiae (Advocates Aditya N. Prasad, Gautam Narayan, and Prabhsahay Kaur), municipal authorities, and any other necessary agencies.

Justice Singh emphasized the need for prompt action, acknowledging the university's expansion requirements. Additionally, the court ordered the Director of the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) at the Old JNU Campus to maintain the current status regarding tree felling at the institution.

“The DCF is required to follow up and see whether the permissions granted, subject to compensatory plantation and transplantation, have been complied with by the authorities to whom those permissions have been granted. In the present case, the same seems to be wholly amiss,” the court said.

Justice Singh remarked that the role of the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) extends abeyond granting permissions for tree felling to ensuring these permissions are executed correctly. The DCF was directed to provide records of all permissions or notifications granted for tree felling since August 31 of the previous year.

The court addressed a contempt plea alleging officials failed to comply with its previous orders requiring Tree Officers to justify permissions for tree felling. This plea relates to the court's directives for preserving trees in the national capital. Last year, the court ordered that no permissions for tree felling for construction purposes in the city be granted without proper justification.

Subsequently, the court instructed Delhi's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to ensure that permissions for tree felling under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, are posted on the official website within 48 hours of being granted.

Title: BHAVREEN KANDHARI v. SHRI C. D. SINGH AND ORS.