Wed Jan 22 15:36:14 UTC 2025: **Karnataka High Court Halts Tree Felling at Air Force Hospital**
**Bengaluru, January 22, 2025** – The Karnataka High Court has temporarily halted the cutting of 530 trees at the Command Hospital, Air Force, in Bengaluru. The order, issued Wednesday, suspends the tree felling pending a review of the legality of the permission granted by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
The court’s decision follows a 2018 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Dattatraya T. Devare and the Bangalore Environment Trust, alleging violations of the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976. While the petitioners do not oppose the construction of a new multi-storied hospital complex, they questioned the BBMP’s procedure for granting permission to fell the trees.
Initially, permission was sought to remove 736 trees. However, after inspection, the Tree Expert Committee (TEC) recommended the felling of only 530, with 211 trees to be retained and eight relocated. The High Court’s interim order prevents any further tree cutting until the legality of the permission is thoroughly examined.
First Piper 