Delhi Police Harassing Petitioners In DDA Tree-Felling Case? SC Seeks Explanation From Commissioner

The Supreme Court issued notice to the Delhi Police on the application filed by the petitioners in the case against the DDA for felling trees in the Ridge area without court permission.

Supreme Court had initiated suo motu contempt case against DDA and had also questioned Delhi LG VK Saxena's role in permitting the illegal felling of trees

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Delhi Police on the application filed by the petitioners in the case against the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for felling trees in the Ridge area without court permission. The petitioners have moved the top court alleging that the Delhi Police is harassing the petitioners for filing the case.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court had initiated suo motu contempt case against DDA Vice Chairman and had also questioned Delhi LG VK Saxena's role in permitting the illegal felling of trees. Delhi LG is chairman of DDA.

Now, the petitioner who filed a case against DDA over illegal tree felling has filed a complaint in the Supreme Court that they are facing harassment by Delhi police.

Petitioner allege that the Delhi police is making enquiries about them and was reaching out to the Bank they have accounts in.

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the court today, that the Delhi Police asked for full details of the petitioner and then they reached out to their bank for account details. He said that the Commissioner of Police and the Axis Bank have to give answers on why this is happening.

Justice AS Oka also asked if they are making enquiries about the other petitioners as well?

The counsel informed the court, "correct," the Delhi Police is doing that and he has the recordings of the same. The top court then issued notice to Delhi Police to explain the same.

The Supreme Court in June had grilled the DDA over felling of trees in Delhi Ridge area and sought a clear statement from its Vice president whether the felling of trees was done on orders of Delhi LG VK Saxena without court permission.

A bench of Justices AS Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan is hearing the case. The bench is dealing with the issue of rampant deforestation in Delhi's Ridge Forest area in violation of previous orders of the Supreme Court. 

The bench headed by Justice Oka earlier questioned whether the enquiry committee it had appointed in previous order enquired into what transpired during Delhi LG's visit to the site before the trees were felled in that area.

The top court reiterated that as the chairman of DDA, Delhi LG is amenable to judicial review.

"It was accepted before us that Delhi LG visited the site. We want to know what transpired in that visit!" the bench asked.

 After going through the affidavits filed by the vice-chairman, the top court found that emails were exchanged between the Delhi LG who is also the chairperson of the DDA in this regard. The top court pulled up the DDA for not putting all details on record, especially with regards to who directed the felling of trees.