Permission For Felling Of More Than 50 Trees To Be Supervised By Central Empowered Committee: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Friday ruled that the permission for felling of 50 or more trees in the national capital will be supervised by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) as per the order of the Supreme Court.

Justice Jasmeet Singh added that permission for felling of upto 50 trees shall continue till the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is implemented by the city authorities.

“The orders dated 31 August, 2023, 14 September, 2023 and 09 August, 2024, are vacated and modified to the extent that the permissions granted for felling for 50 or more trees will now be supervised by the CEC in terms of the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court,” the Court held.

“As regards upto 50 trees are concerned, the same shall continue till SOP as indicated in the orders is finalized and implemented by the respondents,” it added.

The Court pronounced its judgment in an application filed in a contempt plea filed in connection with the orders passed by the court in a matter concerning preservation of trees in the national capital.

The contempt plea argued that the officials in the national capital were not following the judicial directions requiring the Tree Officers to spell out reasons for permitting the felling of trees.

In December 2024, the Supreme Court directed that whenever Tree Officers grant permission to fell 50 or more trees under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, the permission must be approved by the CEC before it is acted upon.

“We therefore direct that whenever permission is granted by the tree officer for felling of 50 or more trees in accordance with Section 8 read with section 9 of 1994 Act the said permission shall not be acted upon unless the same is approved by the CEC…CEC will consider the application and all other aspects thereof and will decide whether the permission deserved to be granted or whether any modification is required in the permission or terms and conditions imposed under the permission”, the Court had directed.

Title: BHAVREEN KANDHARI v. SHRI C. D. SINGH AND ORS. 

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 529