The Supreme Court ordered the Mumbai Metro to pay a 10 lakh fine within two weeks for cutting down trees in the Aarey forest without permission, noting that the Mumbai Metro attempted to exceed the court’s jurisdiction.
According to a bench made up of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices P S Narasimha, and Justices J B Pardiwala, it was improper for Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to request permission from the tree authority to cut down any trees that were over 84 in number.
The top court, however, allowed the firm to cut down 177 trees in the Aarey forest because it believed that prohibiting tree cutting would put the public project at an unfavourable standstill.
“MMRCL shall pay the conservator of forests a sum of Rs. 10 lakh within a period of two weeks. The bench stated, “The conservator shall guarantee that any afforestation which has been directed is accomplished.
“We propose that a team be sent by the IIT Bombay director to check for compliance. In three weeks, a report must be delivered to this court, it added.
The top court had in 2019 taken suo motu cognizance of a letter appeal Rishav Ranjan, a law student, had sent to the Chief Justice of India asking for a halt on the cutting down of trees in the colony.
