Aarey forest row highlights: SC puts interim stay on cutting trees; Forest Bench to hear matter on Oct 21

The Supreme Court asked the Maharashtra government to not cut more trees at Aarey Colony. The Supreme Court's Forest Bench will hear the matter on October 21. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Maharashtra government assured the bench that henceforth no trees will be cut. Stay tuned for live updates.

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Don't cut anymore trees, says SC on Mumbai's Aarey

The Supreme Court on Monday restrained authorities from cutting anymore trees in Mumbai's Aarey to set up a Metro car shed.

A special bench comprising justices Arun Mishra and Ashok Bhushan said it will have to examine the entire thing and posted the matter for hearing on October 21 before its forest bench. "Don't cut anything now," the bench said.

The felling of trees is being opposed by green activists and local residents. The apex court decided on Sunday to register as PIL a letter addressed to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by law student Rishav Ranjan seeking a stay on the cutting of trees. A notice was posted on the Supreme Court website about holding the urgent hearing. (PTI)

The Supreme Court orders that status quo should be maintained regarding felling of trees at Mumbai's Aarey Colony.

The Supreme Court asks that activists who were arrested should be released. 'In case those are still not released shall be released immediately,' assures Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. SC also asks to include Union Environment Ministry as a party.

A view of the construction site of a metro train parking shed for an upcoming subway line is seen in the Aarey Colony suburb of Mumbai. (Reuters photo)

SC Forest Bench to hear matter on Oct 21

The matter will be taken up by the Forest Bench of the Supreme Court on October 21.

The Supreme Court's observation gives interim relief to activists. The apex court has observed that no more trees will be cut unless the Environment Bench hears the case.

The Supreme Court asks Maharashtra government to not cut more trees at Aarey Colony. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Maharashtra Government assures the bench that henceforth no trees will be cut.

Tell us whether Aarey forest was an eco-sensitive zone or not. It was a no development zone not an eco-sensitive zone. This is what we get, show us the documents: Justice Arun Mishra

Entire Aarey is an unclassified forest, sayssenioradvocate Gopal Sankaranarayan, who is also apearing on behalf of the activists.

The Supreme Court asks petitioners to show notification on Aarey being an ecologically-sensitive zone.

Senior Counsel Gopal Shankarnarayan, representing some activists, is briefing the Court on the background and facts of the case concerning Aarey Forest and the impending question of its eco-sensitive zone tag, according to Bar and Bench.

"Aarey is a forest ecosystem," saysadvocate Sanjay Hegde.

Maninder Singh appears for Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation.

SC commences hearing on plea against felling of trees in Mumbai's Aarey

The Supreme Court on Monday commenced hearing on a plea against felling of trees in Mumbai's Aarey to set up a Metro car shed.

A special bench of justices Arun Mishra and Ashok Bhushan started hearing the plea filed by a law student on the felling of trees. The felling of trees is being opposed by green activists and local residents.

The apex court decided on Sunday to register as PIL a letter addressed to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by law student Rishav Ranjan seeking a stay on the cutting of trees. A notice was posted on the Supreme Court website about holding the urgent hearing. (PTI)

SC special bench hearing on Aarey forest row begins

SC special bench hearing with regard to felling of trees in Maharashtra'sAareyforest begins. Senior Counsel Sanjay Hegde is representing the students who wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

Aarey protest: Conditional bail for 29 protesters

A sessions court in Mumbai on Sunday granted bail to 29 protesters arrested over the last two days on charges of allegedly obstructing and assaulting police personnel on duty during protests against felling of trees at Aarey Colony.Additional sessions court judge H C Shende of the holiday court ordered their release on certain conditions including production of personal surety of Rs 7,000 and assurance that they would not take part in protests.

Section 144 imposed again in Aarey

Section 144 of the IPC was reimposed in the Aarey Colony of Mumbai after prohibitory orders were relaxed for a short while amid protests against the felling of trees to build a car shed for the Mumbai metro. Several people including Shiv Sena leaders and Prakash Ambedkar were detained, while 29 others arrested during the protests for assaulting the police personnel on duty. On Saturday, the Mumbai police kept a strict vigil on the roads leading to Aarey colony, only allowing residents and schoolbuses to pass and enter the area.

Aarey: MMRCL claims it planted 24,000 trees

Facing flak from green activists for felling trees in part of Aarey Colony for a metro car shed, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL) on Sunday posted a video claiming it had planted 24,000 trees across the city even as its MD Ashwini Bhide justified the "inevitable destruction", saying it paves the way for "new creation".

Bhide has re-tweeted a video released by the official handle of @MumbaiMetro3 claiming plantation of 24,000 trees across Mumbai.

Read the full report here.

A woman reacts as she touches a tree after it was cut down in the Aarey Colony suburb of Mumbai on October 4, 2019. (Reuters photo)

In a letter petition, the students asked the court to exercise its epistolary jurisdiction for "environmental concerns and protection of Aarey without getting into technicalities as there was no time for preparation of a proper appeal petition".

A group of activists who protested against the decision were detained and arrested by the police on Saturday.

A delegation of students from a Noida-based college led by Rishav Ranjan urged the Supreme Court to issue mandamus for stay on cutting of trees by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, for a Metro train shed.

"The ‘Car Shed’ is sought to be located in 33 hectare land at Aarey. This is on the banks of the ‘Mitthi River’ and which has tributaries and channels flowing to it and emptying in the river. Its absence can flood Mumbai and it has more than 3,500 trees in it out of which 2,238 is proposed to be cut down. The question is why should a forest which has 3,500 trees in it on the banks of a river be removed," they asked.

The Bombay High Court had on Saturday rejected the plea against axing of trees for the purpose of setting up a metro rail shed.

A PIL was registered, after a group of Law students on Saturday approached the office of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi seeking immediate intervention into the matter.

Hello readers,a special bench ofthe Supreme Courton Monday will hear pleasagainst the felling of trees in the Aarey forest in Maharashtra. Stay tuned for live updates.