Punjab & Haryana High Court closes PIL over tree felling by DLF

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday closed a public interest litigation (PIL) case initiated suo motu by it over a news report stating that the real estate developer DLF was allegedly felling nearly 2,000 trees in Gurugram’s Aravallis for a real estate project [Court on its Motion v. State of Haryana].

A Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry took on record the State's submission that the land for the real estate project did not fall within the protected Aravalli area of Gurugram.

In view of the same, the Court closed the proceedings.

"Since none of the khasra numbers in regard to which respondent no. 3 has been granted permission to fell trees fall within Aravalli hills, this Court does not deem it to appropriate to proceed in the matter, specially when respondent no. 3 was granted permission vide different orders after following the due process of law," the Court ordered.

However, the Court directed the State authorities to ensure strict compliance with the conditions for afforestation by DLF "by planting ten times the trees cut."

"Consequently, the PIL stands disposed of with the aforesaid directions, observations and liberty," it added.

The Court had issued notice last month to the Haryana government, the Gurugram Municipal Corporation and DLF Limited in the PIL.

According to a news report published by The Tribune on June 12, trees were being cut across 40 acres of land in DLF Phase 5, Gurugram with residents and environmental activists claiming that the builder was “destroying the Aravallis”.

Chief Conservator of Forests (South Haryana) Subhash Yadav had told the newspaper that the land belongs to the DLF and it has no jurisdiction over the same since no forest area is involved.

The same was confirmed in the Court later, with the State submitting that the land in question did not fall within the Aravalli area or protected forest.