The Punjab & Haryana High Court on Thursday initiated a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) over the reported felling of nearly 2000 trees in Gurugram's DLF area for a real estate development project.
The bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Aman Chaudhary took suo moto cognisance of the issue based on a newspaper report highlighting the mass cutting of trees. The court emphasized the seriousness of the environmental concern and began proceedings on its own motion.
“The office is directed to implead the DLF Limited (formerly Delhi Land & Finance), Shopping Mall, 3rd Floor, Arjun Marg, DLF City Phase-I, Gurugram, Haryana, 122002, through its Managing Director, as well as Municipal Corporation, Gurugram through its Commissioner as party respondents apart from the State of Haryana,”
The Court issued notice to the State of Haryana and directed the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram, to be made a party to the case. It also sought responses from all concerned authorities.
Further, the Court directed that the matter be listed for hearing on June 26. The State counsel was instructed to inform the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram regarding the case and file a status report within a week.
Title of Case: Court On Its Own Motion v. State of Haryana
Counsel Present: Mr. R.K.S. Brar, Addl. A.G., Haryana.