HC directs Registrar of Madurai bench to file report on trees

The Madras High Court today directed the Registrar (Administration) of its bench in Madurai to submit a report on the trees that were allegedly felled inside the High Court campus there.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar passed the order on a PIL by one M Karalmarx.
The bench directed that a status report be filed by April 27.
The petition sought to restrain the Registrar General and his office from indiscriminately cutting trees in the High Court campus in Madurai.
The petitioner submitted that the High Court and the Supreme Court had time and again highlighted the importance of preserving the ecology and environment.

Even through an order issued in August 2015, the High Court has directed the authorities to consider alternative measures for felling trees.

There is no list of trees and the actual numbers are not available with the registry, which leads to indiscriminate cutting of trees, he said.
Earlier, the High Court had directed a Chief Biologist to inspect the campus and file a report, but till now no proper action has been taken to complete the task, he added.
Referring to a recent media report on felling of trees in the High Court campus in Madurai, advocate E Vijay Anand had yesterday mentioned before the bench that the issue needed an urgent hearing, as number of trees are being cut down to pave way for the construction of the office of Additional Solicitor General.

Convinced by his submission, the bench had directed the advocate to file a formal petition and said it would be taken up for hearingtoday.