LI Network
Published on: November 14, 2023 at 13:35 IST
The Uttarakhand High Court recently issued a contempt notice to the State and the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forest Civil Secretariat. This action was taken due to the alleged disobedience of the court’s directives regarding the transplantation of fully grown trees that were cut during the widening of Saurashtra road in Dehradun.
Justice Ravindra Maithani, presiding over the case, emphasized the ecological significance of the issue, particularly concerning the Shivalik Hills. The court had previously ordered the transplantation of trees, involving the use of mechanical devices to uproot and relocate them for continued growth.
The petitioner, a civil engineer and President of the EcoGroup society in Dehradun, accused the respondents of willfully disobeying the court’s judgment related to road widening and tree cutting. The court had specifically mandated the involvement of experts from the Forest Research Institute (F.R.I.), Dehradun, in the transplantation process.
The Court admitted the case and issued notices to the respondents, directing them to file personal affidavits. The next hearing is scheduled for December 20, 2023. The respondents are instructed to address not only the contempt petition but also specific points related to tree transplantation.
The Court sought detailed information, including the purchase date of mechanical devices for transplantation, the involvement of Forest Research Institute experts in uprooting and transplanting trees, the number of trees transplanted, their new locations, transplantation dates, and current conditions.
Additionally, the Court requested supporting evidence such as photographs and videographs. It expressed its intention to seek assistance from the Director of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, if necessary.
The case is titled “Ashish Kumar Garg v. R K Sudhanshu & Anr.”