Aarey Forest: Urgent hearing in Supreme Court today

Mumbai : The Supreme Court on Saturday took suo moto cognizance and formed a special bench for urgent hearing of a case related to cutting of trees in Aarey Colony in Mumbai.

The information about urgent hearing was posted on the apex court's website. It states, "take notice that a special bench has been constituted to hear the matter tomorrow i.e October 7, 2019 at 10.00 AM on the basis of a letter dated October 6, 2019 addressed by Rishav Ranjan with regard to felling of trees in Aarey forest, state of Maharashtra which has been registered as a public interest litigation".

The Supreme Court is closed for the Dussehra break for one week, hence the letter has been uploaded in the name of vacation officer. A two judge division bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra and comprising of Justice Ashok Bhushan shall hear the case on Monday.

Meanwhile, all 29 arrested activists have been released on bail by the Mumbai sessions court. They were arrested for allegedly disturbing public order and obstructing government officials from performing their duties.

On Saturday, the Bombay High Court rejected the petitions demanding ban on the cutting of Aarey forest for development of Mumbai Metro car shed.

The Aarey colony, measuring 1,287 hectares and located adjoining to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, is known as a major green lung of the metropolis.