CJI Sanjiv Khanna recuses himself from hearing pleas related to felling of trees in Delhi ridge

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Monday recused from hearing pleas in connection with the alleged illegal felling of several hundred trees in the Delhi Ridge area.

At the outset, the CJI, who was presiding over a bench also consisting of Justice Sanjay Kumar, said, “One thing I would like to point out is that when I was the NALSA chairman, I had gone to Patna and with Delhi LG had toured jails there. So, it will not be appropriate for me to hear the plea”.

The court ordered the listing of the pleas before a bench of which the CJI is not part in the week commencing November 27.

A counsel submitted before the bench that there were orders passed by two other benches. The CJI said he is aware of it.

Previously, a bench headed by the then CJI D Y Chandrachud, since retired, had sought a personal affidavit of Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena in the case which had also sought initiation of contempt proceedings against certain Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials.

Earlier this month, the apex court had asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) about the measures undertaken to restore the Delhi Ridge area. It has been alleged that several hundred trees were allegedly felled illegally. The bench had asked the DDA counsel and the petitioner to inform it about the status of trees felled, consequential actions, and the monitoring mechanism.

The apex court had sought information on the extent of plantation done by the authorities and added that it would introduce a monitoring system to ensure these trees were surviving.

In August, the then CJI-led bench decided to hear a contempt case, after a rare standoff between two separate benches of the apex court in connection with the illegal felling of trees in the ridge area.

On July 24, a bench presided Justice B R Gavai expressed its displeasure regarding another bench presided by Justice Abhay S Oka also proceeding with contempt proceedings against the DDA in relation with tree felling.

Justice Gavai, who is in line to become the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in May 2025, said the other bench "has not adhered to judicial propriety", against the backdrop of the fact that the bench led by him was already seized of the matter.