SC Refuses to Issue Orders to Delhi High Court on Tree-Felling Hearing

If the high court wishes to continue (hearing) despite our orders, it is for the high court to decide. SUPREME COURT

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday left it to the Delhi high court to decide whether to continue hearing a case on illegal tree felling in the Capital, even as a similar matter remains under consideration by the apex court.

A bench of justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan declined to issue a clarificatory order for the high court in response to a request by senior advocate Gautam Narayan.

Narayan, who assists as amicus curiae in the Delhi high court proceedings, informed the Supreme Court that the Delhi government had asked the high court to vacate its orders restricting tree officers from granting permissions for major projects and residential construction, arguing that the Supreme Court was already examining the matter.