Bombay High Court Stops Authorities From Cutting Trees In Mumbai's Aarey, Next Hearing On September 30

The Bombay High Court has verbally directed authorities to not cut any tree in Mumbai's Aarey till the court decides on the larger issue to which everyone has agreed. The court scheduled the next hearing for September 30.

The bench of the Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dangre also said that they plan to personally visit Aarey to see what the issue is, "as sometimes it may be necessary to personally see the site to ascertain the facts in such critical matters of environment."

An environmental activist had approached the Bombay High Court on Tuesday against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) approval for felling and transplanting over 2,600 trees in and from the Aarey area in the metropolis.

In his petition, activist Zoru Bathena said the decision of the BMC's Tree Authority, taken on August 29 this year, approving the felling of trees to make way for a metro car shed was not in accordance with a previous order of the high court.