Sort out Metro grievances with panel: SC to activists

Mumbai: The Supreme Court, while hearing a special leave petition, has directed Mumbai activists who are fighting to save trees that will be affected due to Metro-3 line to go back to the panel appointed by the Bombay high court to oversee the plantation of fresh trees and place all the facts before it.

The committee, which comprises two high court judges, was appointed by high court in its May 5 order where it had vacated its stay on cutting of trees for the construction of the Metro line. The petitioner, Nina Deepak Verma, had then filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court, which was dismissed as the latter upheld the vacated stay order by the high court.

The May 5 order stated that the high court had appointed the member secretary of the Maharashtra Legal Services Authority and the Deputy Registrar to oversee the compliance with transplantation and re- transplantation of the trees. The SC in its order stated to give ‘liberty’ to petitioner to approach the committee of two judges to be nominated by the Chief Justice for redressal of their grievances.

“The Supreme Court on May 18, 2017 heard the special leave petition filed by Nina Deepak Verma challenging the Bombay high court order on vacating of cutting of trees dated May 5, 2017. The Supreme Court has confirmed the high court order and refused any relief on the stay vacated by the high court on affected trees, stating that the High Court order was well reasoned,” said spokesperson of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited, the firm that is building the project.