NGT Slaps One Rupee Fine on Surveyor General For Not Complying With Its Directions

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a symbolic fine of one rupee on the country’s Surveyor General for not complying with its directions.

The green body was hearing matter over the allegations concerning the felling of over 100,000 trees and shrubs in a protected forest area spanning three divisions: Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. This deforestation is reportedly linked to the construction of two lanes along the 111-km Kanwar Marg, which runs from Muradnagar in Ghaziabad district to Purkaji in Muzaffarnagar district, near the Uttarakhand border.

In a recent order, NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted that the tribunal had previously instructed the Surveyor General to submit a response and appear virtually, as well as provide satellite imagery of the affected area.

"Neither the response has been filed by the Surveyor General, Survey of India, nor he is virtually present today in compliance of the above order. We have also not received any application seeking an exemption from virtual presence.

"The directions of the tribunal have not been complied with by the Surveyor General. Thus we impose the cost of one rupee for such conduct," said the bench also comprising judicial members Justices Arun Kumar Tyagi and Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahmad.

It said though the tribunal was "prompted to take strict action" against him, the green panel had "restrained itself from strict action", "expecting that a high officer like Surveyor General will have some regard to the orders of the courts and tribunals." Meanwhile, the tribunal was informed that the work for the construction of the road was suspended because of rain.

The matter has been posted on October 4 for further proceedings. 

(With inputs from PTI)