‘Don’t want conflicting orders’: SC on contempt proceedings before 2 Benches on tree-felling

New Delhi, July 24

Taking note of two separate contempt proceedings pending before different Benches over felling of trees in Delhi’s ridge area, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said it believes in “judicial propriety” and doesn’t want any conflicting orders to be passed.

Maintaining that it would be appropriate if matters pertaining to the ridge are heard by one Bench to avoid conflicting orders, the apex court wondered when a Bench was already seized of the matter should a subsequent Bench have looked into it.

A Bench headed by Justice BR Gavai noted that though the contempt proceedings with regard to felling of tress were initiated by a Bench headed by him on April 24, another Bench of the apex court also started contempt proceedings on the issue in May.

“It would have been more appropriate for the other Bench to seek clarification from the Chief Justice of India before initiating the contempt proceedings for the same cause of action as to which Bench should continue with the said proceedings…,” the Bench, also comprising Justices PK Mishra and KV Viswanathan, said.

It directed the registrar (judicial) of the apex court to place the matter before the CJI for an appropriate order. The bench said it does not propose to proceed further with the proceedings initiated by it since those before the other bench have already progressed.