Delhi High Court Halts Tree Cutting Near Mazar-e-Ghalib and Chaunsath Khamba

The Delhi High Court directed authorities to ensure no trees are cut without due process on land adjacent to protected monuments Mazar-e-Ghalib and Chaunsath Khamba. The court's order follows a petition from an NGO highlighting illegal deforestation activities endangering 100-year-old trees at the site.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a directive mandating authorities to prevent the cutting of trees without following due process on land adjacent to the historic monuments of Mazar-e-Ghalib and Chaunsath Khamba in New Delhi.

Located in Nizamuddin West, Mazar-e-Ghalib is the tomb of the celebrated Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib, while Chaunsath Khamba, a mausoleum characterized by its 64 pillars, was constructed by Mirza Aziz Koka, son of Akbar's prime minister Ataga Khan. Koka also served as the governor of Gujarat under Mughal Emperor Jahangir.

The court was responding to a petition submitted by the Hazrat Nizamuddin Welfare Association, an NGO that raised concerns over the ongoing deforestation. The petition highlighted that 100-year-old trees adjacent to these protected monuments were being felled. Justice Sanjeev Narula ordered various authorities, including the deputy conservator of forests and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, to submit status reports within two weeks, and emphasized the necessity of following legal procedures before any tree cutting takes place.