In Brief
The Supreme Court considered DMRC's applications seeking declarations that certain areas in Delhi were non-forest lands to bypass forest clearance requirements for Phase-IV Metro Rail construction. The Court held that determination of forest status must be made by competent State authorities, not the Court. DMRC was directed to file formal applications under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 with the Chief Conservator and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change for consideration. For Ridge and Morphological Ridge areas, Ridge Management Board approval is required. The Court emphasized sustainable development and directed GNCTD and DMRC to prepare comprehensive tree-planting action plans with citizen participation, reaffirming that statutory forest clearance procedures cannot be circumvented.
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