Pranav B Prem

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, New Delhi, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member), Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member), and Dr. Afroz Ahmad (Expert Member), has reviewed compliance in a case concerning illegal tree cutting, damage to the boundary wall of a park, and environmental degradation caused by construction activities in violation of norms.

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The matter stemmed from Original Application No. 439 of 2023 filed by applicant Birender Sangwan, who complained of indiscriminate tree felling, destruction of a park’s protective wall, and air pollution from unregulated construction activities. The Tribunal had disposed of the application on January 25, 2024, after directing multiple authorities, including the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), to take specific corrective measures.

Since the directions were not fully complied with, the applicant revived the matter through Miscellaneous Application No. 129 of 2024, leading to a compliance review hearing on September 15, 2025.

DMRC’s Compliance

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (Respondent No. 4) informed the Tribunal that it had deposited ₹3,00,000 as environmental compensation with the DPCC. The amount was paid through three separate demand drafts of ₹1,00,000 each, dated May 2, 2024, in accordance with earlier orders holding DMRC accountable for environmental damage.

PWD’s Compliance

The Public Works Department (Respondent No. 1) submitted that it had deposited ₹10,000 as costs with the Tribunal’s Registrar and had also deposited ₹1,00,000 as environmental compensation. However, the latter was mistakenly deposited with the Registrar of the Tribunal rather than with the DPCC as required. To correct this, the Bench directed the Tribunal’s Registrar General to transfer the ₹1,00,000 to DPCC for proper environmental use.

DDA’s Position

The Delhi Development Authority (Respondent No. 10) had not yet deposited the ₹10,000 penalty imposed by the Tribunal’s earlier order dated April 7, 2025. Its counsel undertook before the Bench to make the payment within one month and to place the receipt on record. Although the DDA did not file an additional status report, its counsel stated that the demolished park walls had been reconstructed, and plantation and restoration measures were being carried out.

DPCC’s Compliance

The Tribunal also noted that, in line with its January 25, 2024 order, the DPCC had paid ₹50,000 to the applicant as costs. Counsel for DPCC confirmed that the amount had been duly transferred.

Tribunal’s Conclusion

After reviewing the submissions and compliance steps, the Tribunal observed that most of its earlier directions had either been complied with or were in the process of compliance. With DMRC’s environmental compensation, PWD’s partial compliance, DDA’s assurance, and DPCC’s payment to the applicant, the Bench held that no further orders were required.

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Accordingly, the Tribunal disposed of Miscellaneous Application No. 129 of 2024, marking closure of compliance review in a case that highlighted illegal tree cutting and construction-related environmental violations.

Appearance 

Applicant: Applicant in Person (through VC).

Respondents: Ms. Jyoti Mendiratta and Ms. Ananya Basudha, Advocates for respondent no. 1-PWD.

Mr. A S Rao DGM/Legal and Mr. Sushant Tripathi, Law Officer for respondent no. 4-DMRC.

Mr. Shivam Tripathi and Mr. Shailesh Kumar Pathak, Advocates for respondent no. 5 and 6.

Ms. Puja Kalra and Mr. Virender Singh, Advocates for respondent no. 7- MCD.

Ms. Kritika Gupta, Advocate for respondent no. 10-DDA.

Cause Title: Birender Sangwan vs Ministry of Public Works Department & Ors.

Case No: Misc Application in Disposed of Cases No. 129/2024 In Original Application No. 439/2023

Coram: Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member), Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member), Dr. Afroz Ahmad (Expert Member)