High Court Takes Suo Motu Action Against DLF for Tree Felling in Gurugram’s Aravallis

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, located in Chandigarh, has taken suo motu action over a news report that claims real estate developer DLF is felling nearly 2,000 trees in Gurugram’s Aravallis for a new real estate project. The court, in a significant move, has issued notices to the Haryana government, the Gurugram Municipal Corporation, and DLF Limited.

A Bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Aman Chaudhary initiated the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and directed the state counsel to inform the Gurugram Municipal Corporation (MC) to file a status report within a week. The matter has been listed for hearing on June 26.

During the hearing, the counsel representing the state informed the court that the area where the real estate project is proposed falls within the jurisdiction of the municipality. “Any permission is to be granted by [MC],” the court was told. According to a news report published by The Tribune on June 12, the trees are being cut across 40 acres of land in DLF Phase 5, Gurugram. Residents and environmental activists have raised concerns, claiming that the builder is “destroying the Aravallis.”

The Chief Conservator of Forests (South Haryana), Subhash Yadav, stated that the land in question belongs to DLF and that no forest area is involved, thus no jurisdiction is applicable. This has sparked a debate over the legal and environmental implications of the project, with environmental activists and local residents voicing their concerns.

Meanwhile, the High Court also initiated two other suo motu cases. One case addresses the shortage of attendants and nursing staff at PGIMER, Chandigarh, while the other deals with waterlogging issues in Punjab’s Zirakpur. Additional Advocate General RKS Brar represented the State of Haryana, and Senior Advocate Amit Jhanji, along with Advocate Himmat Singh Sidhu, appeared for PGIMER. Senior Deputy Advocate General Salil Sablok represented the State of Punjab.

The High Court’s proactive approach in these matters underscores its commitment to addressing environmental and public health concerns. The court’s actions are expected to bring transparency and accountability to the issues at hand, ensuring that the rights of the public and the environment are protected.