The Supreme Court on Monday (January 5, 2026) made it clear that it will allow the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to cut additional trees in the Delhi Ridge area only when it is completely satisfied that its earlier directions on afforestation and ecological restoration have been complied with.
The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing an application filed by the DDA, seeking permission to cut 473 trees for the road widening project connecting the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences.
CAPFIMS is a premier healthcare and educational project located in Maidangarhi, Delhi, providing specialized medical services, nursing education and paramedical training to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel like BSF, CRPF, CISF etc. and their families.
The DDA has also sought approval for relocation of 2,519 trees and shrubs and land use change of 2.97 hectares of forest land for the proposed construction. During the hearing, the Chief Justice orally remarked that no further permission for felling of trees would be granted unless the bench was satisfied about compliance with its previous directions issued on May 28, 2025.
Earlier, the bench had ordered that every notification or order relating to afforestation, road construction, tree cutting or any activity having potential ecological impact should clearly mention the pending proceedings before the Supreme Court. It had also issued detailed instructions regarding compensatory plantation.
Referring to tree plantation commitments made earlier, the Chief Justice said, ‘We will not allow anything to happen until we satisfy ourselves about the compliance. Where is the compliance? What happened to 1.65 lakh trees and 18 sites? Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Maninder Singh appeared on behalf of DDA.
Advocate Maninder Singh told the court that 185 acres of land has been identified for plantation and its possession has been handed over. He further said that DDA is in the process of building boundary wall around the identified land and it hopes that the work will be completed by February 28.
Seeking time to file a comprehensive status report, the Solicitor General requested adjournment till Friday to obtain detailed instructions regarding the progress of compliance. CJI Surya Kant, however, stressed the need for a complete and site-wise report.
He said, ‘We need a complete report on the steps taken so far at all 18 sites and further plans?’ The next hearing in this case has been scheduled for January 19.
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