High Court Shifts Tree Preservation Oversight to Central Committee

The Delhi High Court has announced that the centrally empowered committee, authorized by the Supreme Court, will now oversee permissions to fell or transplant 50 or more trees in Delhi. This move aligns with the Supreme Court's orders and aims to streamline the process effectively.

Justice Jasmeet Singh clarified that the committee, referred to as the CEC, will supervise permissions granted by the State Department for cutting 50 or more trees, based on the Supreme Court's directives. This decision modifies previous orders and aims to regularize the felling process, ensuring environmental protection.

The court recognized the ongoing challenges in preventing deforestation and underlined the urgency of safeguarding trees as a crucial defense against pollution. Interim court orders stressed preventing further harm to the capital's limited but valuable resources, indicating the need for stricter supervision of tree management.

(With inputs from agencies.)