Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 17-09-2026

Case Overview

  • Petition: Department of Forest and Wildlife (Petitioner) vs. Anjali College of Pharmacy and Science & Ors. (Respondents).
  • Diary No.: 56884/2026; Special Leave Petition (Civil).
  • Origin: Impugned final judgment and order dated 20-08-2026 in CONT.CAS(C) No.934/2023 (orders dated 06-05-2024 and 28-08-2023) passed by the Delhi High Court.
  • Interlocutory Applications: IA No. 283308/2026 (condonation of delay), IA No. 283314/2026 (exemption from filing copy of impugned judgment), IA No. 283312/2026 (permission to file petition).
  • Hearing Date: 17-09-2026.
  • Bench (Coram): Hon'ble Chief Justice, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Hon'ble Mrs. Justice V. Mohana.
  • Counsel for Petitioner: Ms. Aishwarya Bhati (A.S.G.), Mr. Moulik Srivastava, Adv. Ms. Atmika Patnaik, Adv. Ms. Swati Ghildiyal, AOR Mr. Siddhant Buxy, Adv. Mr. Nimesh Bhatt, Adv. Mr. Kushagra Dash.
  • Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Shoeb Alam, Sr. Adv.; Ms. Shibani Ghosh, AOR; Mr. Khalid Ali, Adv.; Mr. Aanand Kumar Vashistha, Adv.

Order Details

1. Permission to file the special leave petitions is granted.

2. The delay in filing is condoned.

3. Issue notice, returnable on 02.11.2026. Digitally signed by Registrar Arjun Bisht on 17-09-2026.

4. The petitioner, Department of Forest and Wildlife, is permitted to carry out eco‑restoration of the Delhi Ridge, which includes:

  • Removal of invasive species.
  • Simultaneous high‑density plantation of trees of indigenous species.
  • Activities to be executed strictly as per the working plan prepared by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (FRI), under supervision of the Ridge Management Board.

5. While undertaking the eco‑restoration, the petitioner shall submit an interim compliance report to the FRI. The Director, FRI, is requested to depute a team of experts to oversee the exercise and submit a report to this Court.

6. Contempt proceedings before the Delhi High Court shall remain stayed.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court has authorized the Department of Forest and Wildlife to proceed with the Delhi Ridge eco‑restoration project under specified conditions, granted procedural reliefs for the petition, and stayed ongoing contempt proceedings.

Topics: Eco‑restoration, Judicial Relief, Environmental Management