Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding encroachment of Ridge area, Delhi, 17/01/2025
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Pavit Singh Vs NCT of Delhi & Others dated 17/01/2025.
An execution application was filed seeking compliance of NGT order, January 15, 2021. The order had called for protection of the Ridge "by taking necessary steps to finalise the notification under section 20 of the Forest Act for reserved forest and protection by appropriate measures". The land about which there is clarity can be included in such notification and the remaining process can be undergone separately but expeditiously. No non-forest activity is permissible in the Ridge area, the order of 2021 had said.
The applicant has stated that the order of the tribunal has not been complied with seriously and effectively and new constructions are coming up in the ridge with all facilities like electricity and water connection which are being provided to the encroachers showing further violations instead of compliance of the order of tribunal.
The execution application was last taken up on September 24, 2024 and notices were issued to the authorities requiring them to file their response. However, even after 3 months none of the respondents have submitted any reply. Only one response was received from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, South District, Hauz Khas.
The bench of Justice Sudhir Agarwal expressed surprise that despite having such a long time, the authorities were unable to file their response and that too in an execution application where the order was passed almost 4 years ago (January 15, 2021). As a last opportunity, the court granted three weeks further time to submit response subject payment of cost of Rs 5000 by each of the respondents (1 to 5) which should be deposited before the next date, February 13, 2025 with the Registrar General of Tribunal.