Refusing to concede to the demands of the UPA government, the Supreme Court on Friday said it would not wind up the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) as it was assisting the court in maintaining forest cover, environment and ecology of the country.

Dismissing the application of the government, the Special Forest Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Arijit Pasayat and S H Kapadia said: “The court would consider if the government wants any modification in the CEC”.Senior Counsel Harish Salve appearing as amicus curie for the CEC, submitted that the government was scared that the court was forcing it by passing orders not to destroy the forests or environment.

“In the name of development, it would ruin the forests and environment,” he argued while praying for dismissal of the application filed by the government in July.

“We will continue with the committee as it helps us in monitoring various orders passed by the court,” said the court.