The Supreme Court agrees to listen to Plea Against Tree Felling on Friday regarding Aarey forest

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to listen to a plea challenging the cutting of trees in Mumbai’s Aarey colony for a Metro car shed. 

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant said it might take up the plea after senior advocate Gopal Shankarnarayan mentioned the matter. Shankarnarayan said cutting of trees goes on overnight despite the stay order earlier.

"We have photographs. The CJI said it'll be heard by this bench. Can or not it's listed tomorrow?" Shankarnarayan said, adding JCBs would be operated over the weekend and therefore the matter requires urgent hearing. the highest court then agreed to listen to the matter on Friday.

The apex court in 2019 had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a letter petition addressed to the magistrate of India by student Rishav Ranjan seeking a stay felling of trees within the colony.

The apex court had restrained authorities from cutting any longer trees in Aarey colony after law officer Tushar Mehta had submitted on behalf of the State of Maharashtra that no further trees are cut. The felling of trees within the colony has been opposed by green activists and native residents.