The High Court in New Delhi has issued a directive to two police personnel, instructing them to plant 100 fruit-bearing trees as a penalty for their involvement in an altercation with a lawyer regarding the protection of trees from damage. Justice Najmi Waziri emphasized the importance of police officers’ duty to safeguard trees and urged them to avoid such “undesirable altercations.” The court also ordered the Delhi Police to circulate the order among its personnel to raise awareness of their responsibilities in protecting trees and to provide timely assistance to the Tree Officer under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA) of 1994.
Following the sincere apologies of the two police personnel, the High Court discharged them from contempt proceedings but mandated their participation in a plantation drive at the Delhi Armed Police Parade Ground in Kingsway Camp. The altercation had occurred in February 2021 when the lawyer, representing the New Delhi Nature Society, informed the additional station house officer (SHO) and the SHO of the area about the need to safeguard certain trees from damage during construction work at the Lodhi Colony site.
This court ruling serves as a reminder of the significance of tree protection and emphasizes the responsibility of law enforcement agencies in preserving green spaces within the city. By assigning the task of planting trees, the High Court aims to promote environmental consciousness among the police personnel and encourage their active participation in safeguarding nature.
