Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 27-05-2026 (hearing date); digitally signed 21-07-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Mr. Liz Mathew (in‑person) and a panel of senior advocates on behalf of various government agencies seeking permission to fell trees in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).
  • Respondents: Union Law Officers – Solicitor General Mr. Tushar Mehta, ASG Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, ASG Ms. Neetica Sharma, and counsel for the respondents.
  • Nature of Proceedings: Suo moto writ petition (Civil) No(s). 8/2026 comprising ten separate Interlocutory Applications (I.A.s) filed between 2023‑2026 for tree‑felling and relocation to facilitate highway, railway, airport and road projects.
  • Key Legal/Regulatory Reference: Central Empowered Committee (CEC) reports and recommendations, which the Court treated as integral conditions to any permission.

Detailed Orders

1. I.A. Nos. 64235 & 64237/2024 (NHAI – Four‑lane highway near Khandauli, Agra)

  • CEC Report No. 68/2025 (dated 04‑12‑2025) recommends cutting 1,963 trees and translocating 53 trees subject to Paragraph 24 conditions (forest land diversion, compensatory afforestation, avenue plantation).
  • NHAI has deposited required afforestation funds and agreed to comply; Court permits the cutting and relocation subject to CEC conditions.
  • CEC to monitor compliance and submit a fresh IA‑registered compliance report.

2. I.A. Nos. 28613 & 28614/2024 (NHAI – Six‑lane access‑controlled highway Agra‑Gwalior)

  • CEC Report No. 1/2025 (21‑01‑2025) recommends cutting 650 trees and translocating 109 trees with conditions on compensatory afforestation, green belt, dust mitigation.
  • Applicant filed affidavit (13‑10‑2025) confirming afforestation compliance.
  • Court permits cutting and relocation subject to Paragraph 7 conditions; CEC to monitor and file fresh IA report.

3. I.A. No. 31946/2024 (North Central Railway – Track laying Agra Fort to Bandikul)

  • CEC Report No. 53/2025 (29‑10‑2025) recommends cutting 1,571 trees on railway land and 52 trees on private land (total 1,623 trees) with compensatory afforestation and greening of vacant railway lands (Paragraph 23).
  • Court permits cutting subject to CEC conditions; CEC to monitor and submit compliance report.

4. I.A. No. 147510/2025 (North Central Railway – Integrated three‑two‑lane RO‑B and R‑U bridges in Agra City)

  • Court directs CEC to prepare a report and recommendations; matter to be listed after receipt of that report. No immediate permission granted.

5. I.A. Nos. 130769 & 130771/2024 (Uttar Pradesh – New airport terminal, civil enclave, runway extension, Agra)

  • CEC Report No. 23/2024 (10‑10‑2024) recommends cutting 286 trees and translocating 121 trees (Paragraph 17) with compensatory afforestation and greening of approach roads.
  • Applicant filed affidavit (07‑07‑2025) confirming afforestation compliance.
  • Court permits cutting and relocation subject to Paragraph 17 conditions; CEC to monitor and file fresh IA report.

6. I.A. No. 244381/2025 (Public Works Department, Mathura – Widening Sadabad Road to Brahmand Ghat)

  • Court directs CEC to consider the application and file a report; matter to be listed after receipt of CEC report. No permission yet.

7. I.A. Nos. 108684 & 108685/2023 (Uttar Pradesh – NH‑321G rehabilitation, upgradation, widening in Agra & Etah)

  • CEC Report No. 8/2024 (08‑07‑2024) recommends cutting 2,818 trees and translocating 229 trees (Paragraph 6) with afforestation, greening, dust mitigation.
  • Additional CEC Report No. 14/2025 adds condition that felling in Etah may start only after removal of encroachments on compensatory afforestation land (Paragraph 7).
  • Applicant complied via affidavit (14‑12‑2024); Court permits cutting and relocation subject to both sets of conditions; CEC to monitor and file fresh IA report.

8. I.A. Nos. 274798 & 285501/2025 (Public Works Department, Mathura – Service road alongside 4‑lane ODR to Vrindavan Pagal Baba Temple)

  • Court directs CEC to consider and report; matter to be listed after receipt of report. No permission yet.

9. I.A. Nos. 68823 & 68824/2025 (Uttar Pradesh – Four‑lane Kosi‑Nandgaon‑Barsana‑Govardhan Road & Sonkh‑Mathura‑Raya Road)

  • CEC Report No. 66/2025 (04‑12‑2025) recommends cutting 2,777 trees (Paragraph 19) with compensatory afforestation and greening.
  • Court permits cutting subject to Paragraph 19 conditions; CEC to monitor and submit fresh IA report.

10. I.A. Nos. 42302 & 42307/2026 (Public Works Department, Mathura – Widening & strengthening Kosi‑Govardhan‑Sonkh‑Farah Road SH‑142)

  • Court directs CEC to consider and report; matter to be listed after receipt of report. No permission yet.

General Directions

  • For each approved application, the CEC shall monitor compliance of the stipulated conditions and the applicant shall report progress to the CEC.
  • Upon verification, the CEC must place a compliance report before the Court, which will be registered as a fresh Interlocutory Application.
  • Applications where the CEC report is pending are listed for further consideration; no tree‑felling permission is granted until such report is filed.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court granted permission to cut a cumulative 10,554 trees (including private land) and to translocate 512 trees across multiple infrastructure projects in the Taj Trapezium Zone, subject to strict CEC‑imposed conditions and ongoing monitoring.
  • Several pending applications await CEC reports before any further tree‑felling authorisation can be issued.

Topics: Environmental Regulation, Infrastructure Development, Forest Conservation