In an apparent violation of a National Green Tribunal order, Ayodhya district magistrate Chandra Vijay Singh changed the composition of a fact-finding committee formed by the tribunal due to his increased workload linked to “development work” and “religious events” after the Ram Temple consecration.

Hearing a case in connection with proposed felling of 300 mango trees for a rest area under Sadar tehsil of Ayodhya, the principal bench of NGT in September had formed a fact-finding committee comprising the district magistrate, an official from Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the divisional forest officer.

Instead of being part of the committee, the district magistrate and the divisional forest officer delegated their powers to other officials in the administration. The NGT objected to this in the second hearing.

“We find it appropriate to direct District Magistrate, Ayodhya and divisional forest officer, Ayodhya to appear before Tribunal on 06.11.2024 to explain as to why they chose to change constitution of committee instead of ensuring that report is submitted by committee constituted by this tribunal when no power of delegation was conferred upon these officers,” read the NGT order dated October 16.

The court also objected to the “incorrect” and “illegal” fact-finding report, which showed “lack of knowledge of law of petty officials”. The report was filed by the committee — reconstituted by Singh — of seven officials from pollution, forest and administration officials on October 15.

In an affidavit filed by Singh on November 5, DM Singh informed the NGT that he could not inspect the site and file the fact-finding report because of workload. “Disregard of court” was not his intent. “It’s humbly submitted that along with developmental work, many religious events are also organised in the Ayodhya district on regular basis especially since the consecration of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi due to which many gazetted officers were nominated for the inspection of this site in question. That one of these officers was also part of the committee constituted by the Hon’ble Tribunal.”

The case pertains to a rest area along the proposed 253-km Chorasi Kos Parikarma national highway at a cost of Rs 7,413 crore. The highway will cover all pilgrimage sites associated with Lord Ram in Ayodhya, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Barabanki, Bahraich and Gond.

In the affidavit, Singh said the proposal for the rest area has been dropped.

The affidavit was filed by former Ambedkar Nagar MP Ritesh Pandey. He told Newslaundry that one resident of Ayodhya, Ravi Pratap Singh, used his name. “He came to me and asked for my help as I am the local representative. I suggested that he could go to NGT for relief. While filing the petition, he used my name as a representative. I confronted him about it.”

Ravi Pratap Singh feared that because of the rest area he would lose 300 mango trees. Earlier, the committee in its submission said Ravi Pratap had no objection to tree cutting if his land is used for the road but not for the rest area. To this, NGT said no tree can be cut “without complying with provisions of said (the UP Tree Protection) Act irrespective of whether the owner of land has given consent or has no objection”.

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