THE HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SHRI NISAR AHMAD KAKRU AND THE HON’BLE SMT.JUSTICE T.MEENA KUMARI WRIT PETITION NO.3924 OF 2010 22nd February 2010 BETWEEN: M.VIJAYA RAMA KUMAR .. PETITIONER AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF INDIA, HYDERABAD AND OTHERS .. RESPONDENTS THE HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SHRI NISAR AHMAD KAKRU AND THE HON’BLE SMT.JUSTICE T.MEENA KUMARI WRIT PETITION NO.3924 OF 2010 O R D E R: (Per the Hon’ble the Chief Justice Shri Nisar Ahmad Kakru) By the Public Interest Litigation on hand a grievance is registered against cutting of the trees necessitated for widening of the road on the National Highway No.9 between Hyderabad to Vijayawada via Suryapet and Kodad. Admittedly, the petitioner is not aggrieved of widening of National Highway, but is aggrieved of felling of the trees. In this behalf, reliance is placed by learned counsel appearing for the petitioner on the statute called “Andra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002” (‘Act’ for short) to contend that not only an obligation is cast on the authorities under the Act to take measures for the protection of the trees, but also requires the authority prescribed under the Act to form suitable guidelines for protection of the trees and their growth. We appreciate his concern, but at the same time we cannot underestimate the importance of widening of National Highways. Neverthless, the respondents cannot afford to be oblivious of the fact that duty oriented functioning makes it obligatory upon them to take all the necessary steps for the protection of the trees besides relocation. Thus, while leaving the respondents free to cut the trees wherever necessary, we make it very clear that they shall have to adhere to the relevant statutes/ rules/ schemes/guidelines and breach thereof, if any, shall be at their own risk and peril. A copy of this order shall be furnished to the petitioner as prayed for. Disposed of. (T.MEENA KUMARI, J) (NISAR AHMAD KAKRU, CJ) 22nd February, 2010. Cc tomorrow. tnb THE HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SHRI NISAR AHMAD KAKRU AND THE HON’BLE SMT.JUSTICE T.MEENA KUMARI WRIT PETITION NO.3924 OF 2010 O R D E R: (Per the Hon’ble the Chief Justice Shri Nisar Ahmad Kakru) 22nd February 2010.