Lt. Governor thinks he is court. The court should have been informed earlier that LG has already issued orders for tree cutting in Ridge road says the 2 judges bench of SC
The apex court has always been extremely serious on issues of environment protection and tree cuttings. In fact , the Supreme Court has whenever dealt with such sensitive issues, reprimanded government agencies n inefficient officials n departments for their sheer negligence and apathy towards the this fragile issue and dealt with severely.
One such instance came a day before when the two judge bench of learned judges of Supreme Court comprising of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjwal Bhuiya has taken strong exception to the role of the Delhi LG Vinay Kumar Saxena for not taking the permission of the Supreme Court or taking it into confidence before issuing orders for cutting of fully grown trees on the Ridge Road of NCT of Delhi.
The court while taking this very seriously and on a highly objectionable note to hide the role of the LG in granting permission for cutting of trees in Ridge road, the two judge bench of SC has strongly reprimanded the Delhi Development Authority n LG.
The two judge bench categorically said that the DDA should have brought it into the notice of the court earlier that the permission has already been granted.
Justice Bhuiya was annoyed that the matter was deliberately delayed n covered clandestinely for the last three days keeping the court in the dark not informing it about the already accorded orders of the LG, Delhi for cutting of Delhi Ridge trees.
He revealed that he already has the idea of the LG being involved in this matter after the Aditional Solicitor General AGR Venkataramani appeared in front of us said Justice Bhuiya.
This is absolutely clear and the affidavit too unambiguously reveals that the DDA had sought the permission said justice Bhuiya. But the LG has not used his wisdom in this trivial matters said the bench.
The bench literally came down heavily on the LG saying that it seems that he thinks himself to be the COURT.
In addition to this while reprimanding the DDA as well, the court also questioned : Had the DDA informed the LG that before issuing any orders in tree cuttings, the permission of the top Court is required/ is mandatory ?
Not sparing the LG n coming down heavily on him, the two judge bench said that instead of informing the court the LG also took the route to cover up the matter.
Even the DDA , the Delhi government and the LG knew about the latest position of the matter said the court.Therefore they should have explained to the court about the matter in the beginning itself then to going for covering it up for the last three days said the court.
The bench said this means that the LG was worried about the delay in some projects.
To this the DDA counsel Singh said sir this is not like that. To this the court said if in the capacity of the DDA counsel you are trying to protect the LG then it clearly indicates that your hands are too not clean.
The senior advocate Ram Jethamalani immediately intervened and said My lord you shouldn’t come to any conclusion by passing objectionable comments against LG said a news report. To this court asked are your appearing on behalf to f Delhi LG adding further that if need be we will issue notice to the LG in this regard.
Advocate Jethamalani said if the court is commenting on the LG then he is appearing on his behalf. The court in its judgement said that the DDA and government officials are free to tell the court whether they had informed the LG that he can’t issue orders for tree cutting at ridge ridge without informing the court said the two judge bench of Supreme Court comprising of Justice Ujjawal Bhiya and Justice Abhay S. Oka.
