Uttarakhand High Court Issues Contempt Notice To State For Disobedience Of Its Directives On Tree Transplantation
The Uttarakhand High Court has issued contempt notice to State and Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest Civil Secretariat for allegedly not complying with its order to transplant the fully grown trees which were cut in widening of Saurashtra road, Dehradun.
A Bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani noted, “It is a matter pertaining to maintaining the ecology of the area, particularly of the Shivalik Hills. The Court had directed for transplantation of the trees, which means uprooting them with mechanical devices and placing them at some place so that they may still grow.”
Advocate Abhijay Negi appeared for the Petitioner and Advocate J.S. Bisht appeared for the Respondents.
The petitioner, a civil engineer also President of the EcoGroup society of Dehradun alleged that a judgment passed by the court regarding the widening of a road and cutting of trees has been wilfully disobeyed by the Respondents. The court's directive was to transplant fully grown trees and the involvement of experts from the Forest Research Institute (F.R.I.), Dehradun.
The Court admitted the case and issued a notice to respondents, directing them to file personal affidavits. The matter is scheduled for further consideration on December 20, 2023. The Court instructed the respondents to respond not only to the contempt petition but also to specific points related to the transplantation of trees.
The Court sought detailed information, including:
- When did the mechanical devices were purchased for transplanting the fully grown trees?
- Who from the Forest Research Institute assisted the respondents in uprooting and transplanting the trees?
- How many trees were transplanted?
- Where have they been transplanted?
- When were they transplanted?
- What is the condition now?
Additionally, the Court requested supporting evidence in the form of photographs and videographs. If necessary, the Court expressed its intention to approach the Director of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, for assistance in the matter.
Cause Title: Ashish Kumar Garg v. R K Sudhanshu & Anr.
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