Aarey forest: SC permits tribals to move Bombay HC on felling of trees

The Supreme Court on Friday permitted some forest dwelling tribals to move the Bombay High Court with their grievances related to the felling of trees in Mumbais Aarey forest for the metro rail projectMany trees being cut for the project are on their landA bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submissions of senior advocate Indira Jaising appearing for some tribals who claim to be living in the Aarey forest area and asked them to intervene in a pending petition before the Bombay High Court on the issueThe senior lawyer said We seek to intervene I appear for the tribals and others who will be displaced if the trees are cut49 trees are on our landThe bench said a petition is already pending before the high court and they can raise the issue of enforcement of their right thereAlso Read Supreme Court penalises Mumbai Metro for felling of trees beyond permissionThe petitioners claim rights as forest dwellers Since the petition is pending before the high court A liberty is granted to raise this before the high court and the high court may consider this for expeditious listing the bench said in its orderOn April 17 the apex court came down heavily on Mumbai Metro for trying to overreach its earlier order permitting the felling of only 84 trees in Aarey forest for a car shed project and directed it to pay Rs 10 lakh as penaltyThe court said it was improper on the part of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited MMRCL to move the tree authority for felling of any trees in excess of 84 The top court however permitted the company to remove 177 trees from Aarey forest saying a stay on tree felling would lead to the public project being brought to a standstill which is not desirableThe apex court in 2019 took suo motu cognisance of a letter petition addressed to the chief justice of India by law student Rishav Ranjan seeking a stay on the felling of trees in the colonyOn November 29 last year the apex court permitted Mumbai Metro to raise with the relevant authority its plea for felling 84 trees at Mumbais Aarey ColonyOn August 24 last year the top court directed MMRCL to strictly abide by its undertaking that no trees will be cut there and warned that any violation would result in strict actionThe apex court had restrained the authorities from felling any more trees after the solicitor general submitted on behalf of the State of Maharashtra that no further trees will be cutThe felling of trees in the colony has been opposed by green activists and residentsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever