Uprooting of 2,332 trees in Taj area, SC seeks UP affidavit

Uprooting of 2,332 trees in Taj area, SC seeks UP affidavit The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file an affidavit on its claim denying that more than 2,000 trees were uprooted by the officials for widening the road leading to the historic Taj Mahal. A special bench of Justices S B Sinha, S H Kapadia and D K Jain refused to entertain the oral submissions of the UP government's counsel, who sought to deny the report of the amicus curiae (court officer) that 2,332 trees were uprooted by the officials without the court's concurrence. "We do not see any averment in your written submission. You file an affidavit. We will see," the bench told the state's counsel who agreed to do so. The apex court also directed the state government to file an affidavit explaining its position on various unauthorised constructions reportedly sprouting in close proximity. Amicus curiae Krishan Mahajan, who is assisting the special bench dealing with environmental hazards posed to the historic structure, had earlier complained to the court that the authorities had felled 2,332 trees without seeking the approval of the apex court. At the last hearing in March, the Uttar Pradesh government had claimed that only 100 of the 2,332 trees for which the state government had sought permission had been cut down without approval. But the claim had been challenged by environmentalists and the amicus curiae who contended that the state was trying to mislead the court.

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