Panel flags ‘lack of cooperation’ on deemed forest protection

New Delhi: The special empowered committee headed by retired Justice Najmi Waziri, constituted on the orders of Delhi High Court for the protection and demarcation of deemed forests, has observed in its latest meeting that "the forest department, which is supposed to carry out the entire exercise, is not aware of what it is supposed to do".

The committee, in its minutes of the meeting dated Jan 7, which was released on March 5, observed that it has been almost 21 months and no report has been filed by the forest department despite 16 meetings.


A committee was formed in Jan 2024 following an order of the high court, which stated on Dec 15, 2023, that the deemed and protected forest areas needed to be protected and it was the responsibility of the committee to do so. The court said the committee would ensure concrete steps were taken for the protection, preservation, reclamation and enhancement of forests (protected and deemed).

In April 2024, the court requested a retired judge of the high court to head the committee to ensure the cooperation of all departments. However, almost a year later, the forest department in July 2025 challenged the order requesting retired Justice Waziri to head this committee, in the high court, which is still sub judice.

In its latest meeting, the committee observed that forest rangers were sent to the meeting in lieu of the members of the committee, namely the chief conservator of forests and the deputy conservator of forests. The committee noted that the PWD submitted data to the forest department in June 2024, and the forest department was to verify forest area plantation along the road. "It has not done the same so far. No reason was given.... No report has been submitted despite the lapse of almost 20 months," the committee noted, as per the minutes of the meeting. It added that there has been consistent recalcitrance and non-cooperation by the forest department in the functioning of this committee.

The minutes said that the counsel for the petitioner submitted that, in the past two years, deemed forests were recommended for diversion for other purposes by certain divisions, and approvals were given in some cases by the forest department. "As this committee is to monitor the green cover of the city, it would be appropriate that the committee be informed about such diversion," it said.

The committee sought the presence of the principal secretary of environment and forest on the next date to ensure compliance with the high court's order.

No response was received from the senior forest officials in the matter.