The Supreme Court recently ruled that cutting down a large number of trees is a grave crime, even worse than murder. In this case, the court imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh for every tree felled illegally. The case involved the cutting of 454 trees in the protected Taj Trapezium Zone, and the court dismissed the appeal of the individual responsible for the act.

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• Supreme Court fined ₹1 lakh for every illegally cut tree in Taj Trapezium Zone.
• The case involved the felling of 454 trees by Shivshankar Aval in Mathura-Vrindavan.
• Court stated cutting trees in large numbers is as severe as murder.
• The environmental harm from cutting 454 trees will take at least 100 years to reverse.
• The court accepted the recommendation from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for the fine.
• Despite acknowledging the mistake, Aval’s plea to reduce the fine was rejected.
• Aval was also given permission to plant trees in nearby areas.
• The Supreme Court reversed its 2019 order that allowed tree cutting in non-forest land within the Taj Trapezium Zone without prior permission.
• The issue of a controversial order by an Allahabad High Court judge was raised in the Lok Sabha.
• BJP MP Mukesh Rajput condemned the order stating “touching a girl’s private parts is not rape” and called for action against such people.