Aarey issue: Will move Supreme Court, say irate petitioners

  • | Saturday | 5th October, 2019

"The High Court has simply said they cannot decide on the issue on merits and has directed us to approach the Supreme Court. Nowhere has High Court said that Aarey is not a forest nor a floodplain. We will now be moving the Supreme Court and we do hope the highest judiciary of our land will do justice to the cause of Aarey." Jadhav said that he would be going to the Supreme Court against the order. The petitions may have been dismissed on technical grounds however the party will go to the Supreme Court on the matter."

The city had witnessed emotive protests on Aarey trees that had come under the axe for the Metro 3 project. On Friday, the Bombay High Court dismissed all the four petitions. While dismissing two on merits, with the other two it said its hands are tied, as a co-ordinate bench of the High Court has already decided on the matter. Petitioner Zoru Bhatena who had filed two of the four petitions that were dismissed, said he was very disappointed to hear that the High Court had dismissed all the petitions, but was slightly relieved on reading the judgment on the petition seeking that Aarey be declared as a forest and the car shed be prohibited on the floodplain of the Mithi river. "The High Court has simply said they cannot decide on the issue on merits and has directed us to approach the Supreme Court. Nowhere has High Court said that Aarey is not a forest nor a floodplain. We will now be moving the Supreme Court and we do hope the highest judiciary of our land will do justice to the cause of Aarey." he said. Mixed Reactions Sena corporator Yashwant Jadhav, had filed a petition against the Tree Authority’s decision stating that proper process was not followed in the decision-making. Suresh Nakhua, BJP spokesperson said that the petition was a ploy to delay the project and stall the development by PM Modi and CM Fadnavis-led Saffron government. Avinash Gupte, a public transport enthusiast however, was glad that the Metro 3 project had crossed the hurdle of the judiciary. "These kind of petitions consume time of the courts at the cost of tax-payers money. If they are concerned about the environment, they should back the Metro 3. The government has said it will be planting six times more trees and one has to trust them sometimes. It was not possible to have the depot at an alternative location as it it is the epicentre of the Metro system, not just a parking space," he said. Politicians had their own stand on the matter. Suresh Nakhua, BJP spokesperson said that the petition by the "so-called tree lovers" was a ploy to delay the project and stall the development by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis governments. "Everyone is aware that a single day of delay is costing 4.25 crore burden on the tax -ayer. The Metro 3 when functional will benefit 14 lakh commuters and will decongest roads. Honourable High Court has seen through the plot and thrashed it," he added. Shiv Sena corporator Yashwant Jadhav, who is also the civic body's standing committee chairman had filed a petition against the Tree Authority's decision stating that proper process was not followed in the decision-making. The court imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on him while criticising lack of details in his petition. Jadhav said that he would be going to the Supreme Court against the order. "We will look at the basis on which the fine has been imposed. This was injustice. If one is raising voice against what wrongs are happening, then is it wrong?" he asked. Manisha Kayande, Sena spokesperson said "Just yesterday the court remarked that in the future we would have to show trees only in pictures to our kids. The petitions may have been dismissed on technical grounds however the party will go to the Supreme Court on the matter."

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Mumbai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles