HC stays felling of trees at Gardanibagh

PATNA: The Patna

high court

on Wednesday stayed uprooting of trees at Gardanibagh for construction of residential and commercial complexes for government officials under the Patna Smart City project.

A division bench of Justice Shivaji Pandey and Justice Partha Sarthy passed the stay order while hearing a PIL filed by Tarumitra.

The bench also directed the central government to file a counter affidavit, mentioning the parameters for cutting trees for execution of development projects. The bench also directed the state government, Patna Municipal Corporation and Patna Smart City Corporation to file counter affidavits on alternate plans to keep the city green.

The court has given three-week time to all four respondents to file their counter affidavits. Till then, the trees will not be uprooted.

While counsels Akash Keshav and Shashwat appeared for Tarumitra, additional solicitor general S D Sanjay represented the central government. Additional advocate general Sarvesh Kumar Singh appeared for the state government.

PIL filed: A PIL was filed in Patna high court on Wednesday by a lawyer, Dinesh Singh, who urged the court to direct the central government not to give effect to the recommendation made by the high court collegium for appointment of 15 lawyers as judges here. The petitioner has alleged that merit was ignored during selection of lawyers.