1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 50 OF 2009 IN P.I.L. NO. 93 OF 2009 Pune Municipal Corporation, Pune .. Applicant. Vs. Deepak Balkrishna Vahikar & Ors. .. Respondents Dr. Sadhana Sunil Mahashabde for the Applicant. Mr. Priten Killedar for the original petitioner. CORAM : J. N. PATEL & SMT. MRIDULA BHATKAR, JJ DATE : 8TH JULY, 2009 P.C. : The learned counsel for the petitioner has pointed out to this Court that the respondent Municipal Corporation has published a notice in newspapers inviting public at large for hearing in order to approve their proposal for felling large number of trees within the 2 municipal limits of Pune Municipal Corporation without any proposal for plantations, afforestation and in order to help builders and vested interest which will further affect the green cover which has already depleted. 2. This Court had already passed a blanket order injuncting the Municipal Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation from felling any tree except with the permission of this Court. In the said order we have made it clear that the Tree Committee should first carry out a survey with the assistance of an expert body and submit its report to this Court and then only those trees (which are dangerous) for the life and property and causing obstruction to the free flow of traffic, sewage / service line drains are only to be cut. We make it clear that the Pune Municipal Corporation would not give permission to any private builder/charitable trust/ institution or body of persons/individuals for cutting trees on the recommendation of the Tree Authority if the trees otherwise do not fall in any of the categories under the Trees Act and as specified by us. 3. We expect that in case the Municipal Corporation decides to fell trees it will abide by our orders passed from time to time. If at all they want to have a public hearing in the matter, they should first 3 publish the report of the experts recommending cutting and plantation of trees and thereafter invite public to have their say in the matter and apply to this Court for necessary orders. 4. We are required to pass the aforesaid directions / order in the interest of maintaining the ecological balance and taking into consideration the impact it will have on the environment within and beyond Pune urban agglomeration if trees are allowed to be felled indiscriminatorily as reflected in the Notification for public hearing. 5. The civil application stands disposed of accordingly. ( J. N. PATEL, J) (SMT. MRIDULA BHATKAR, J)