The Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has transferred the contempt of court docket case initiated by the Supreme Court docket towards the Delhi Growth Authority (DDA) over unlawful tree felling within the Delhi Ridge space to his bench.
In keeping with the apex court docket’s newest trigger checklist, the case will now be heard by the three choose bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud as an alternative of the bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka.
The matter pertains to a case the place the apex court docket pulled up the DDA vice chairman, different officers and questioned Delhi LG VK Saxena’s function in allowing deforestation within the ridge with out court docket permission. Delhi LG can be the chairman of DDA.
Between June-July, the bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, heard the case and grilled the DDA Vice Chairman over the unlawful tree felling.
The bench headed by Justice Oka questioned whether or not the enquiry committee it had appointed in earlier order enquired into what transpired throughout Delhi LG’s go to to the location earlier than the timber had been felled in that space.
The highest court docket reiterated that because the chairman of DDA, Delhi LG is amenable to judicial assessment.
“It was accepted earlier than us that Delhi LG visited the location. We wish to know what transpired in that go to!” the bench stated.
After going by way of the affidavits filed by the vice-chairman, the highest court docket discovered that emails had been exchanged between the Delhi LG who can be the chairperson of the DDA on this regard. The highest court docket pulled up the DDA for not placing all particulars on document, particularly close to who directed the felling of timber. The court docket sought clarification on the identical.
“We direct the Vice Chairman to state earlier than the Court docket about whether or not any official document is offered relating to the location go to of the LG on third Feb and on what transpired on the go to of the LG. We want a transparent assertion of details from the VC, as a result of if what’s indicated within the emails is appropriate, then the felling of the timber was on the instructions by the LG. We count on the DDA to come back clear on this side,” the bench stated.
The court docket stated such a brazen act on a part of DDA can’t be brushed apart by the court docket and issued contempt discover to DDA officers.
Petitioner allege that the Delhi police is making enquiries about them and was reaching out to the Financial institution they’ve accounts in.
On July 24, a separate division bench headed by Justice BR Gavai, took objection to Justice Oka’s bench taking on the contempt petition.
Justice Gavai noticed that his bench had already issued discover to the DDA on a contempt petition in one other plea on the identical tree felling earlier than Justice Oka’s bench heard the stated plea.
Being attentive to parallel proceedings within the situation of tree felling in Delhi ridge space, Justice Gavai referred the matter to the Chief Justice of India and opined that every one issues pertaining to the Delhi ridge forest be handled by one single bench.