Supreme Court has today ordered to maintain status quo regarding felling of trees at Mumbai’s Aarey Colony. The Court has asked Maharashtra Government to not cut any more trees at Aarey Colony, adding it will have to examine entire thing. SC has also asked to include Union Environment ministry a party. SC’s forest bench to hear plea regarding felling of trees in Mumbai’s Aarey on October 21.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Maharashtra Government assured the bench that henceforth no trees will be cut.
He also told the court that all those arrested for protesting against cutting of trees in Aarey have been released.

A special bench of justices Arun Mishra and Ashok Bhushan started an urgent hearing today the plea filed by a law student on the felling of trees in Mumbai’s Aarey to set up a Metro car shed. The felling of trees is being opposed by green activists and local residents. The petitioner told the court that Aarey forest was deemed as “unclassified forest” by state govt and felling of trees is illegal. Petitioner had claimed that Aarey forest was a no development zone and not eco-sensitive zone.

The apex court had 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.