Recently the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has refused to entertain a PIL opposing tree felling at Ajni for proposed multi-modal transport hub due to lack of research. A division bench consisting of Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Anil Kilor, while disposing of the PIL filed by Iraj Sheikh, advised him to undertake proper research, obtain basic data and raise substantial legal challenge before moving the court over such important issue.
As per information, the PIL based on newspaper reports referred to a proposal submitted by National Highways Authority of India to Garden Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation and also a MoU signed between NHAI and Railway Land Development Authority to execute the project at Ajni. The information cited under Right to Information Act, 2005 on December 7, 2020 only sought information regarding variety and number of trees. “There is no attempts to even secure these basic documents to raise a studied challenge in support of the cause sought to be agitated,” the HC pointed out. The High Court also asked the respondent authorities to expeditiously supply basic information and copies of the documents to either the petitioner or any other public spirited citizen.
