NAVEEN SOLANKI Vs. RAIL LAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Appeal arises out of judgment and order dtd. 13/2/2024 ("Impugned Judgment") passed by the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi ("NGT"), whereby it dismissed the Original Application No.697 of 2023 ("OA") filed by Shri R.M. Asif, Respondent No. 5.

(2.) The OA was filed challenging the Request for Proposal number RLDA/RFP/CD-85 of 2022 dtd. 19/12/2022 ("RFP") issued by the Rail Land Development Authority, Respondent No.1 ("RLDA") for the combined Multi-Use plot, MU4+MU5+MU6 Railway Land parcel ("subject land") admeasuring approximately 1,24,000 sq. mtrs. or 12.40 hectares situated along New Bijwasan Railway Station, Delhi, on the plea that the subject land was part of forest land and in terms of Sec. 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 ("1980 Act"), permission of the Central Government has not been obtained to cut trees in the process of implementation of the above RFP.

(3.) The Original Applicant-Respondent No.5 has not challenged the Impugned Judgment. This Appeal has been filed by two advocates who claim to be public-spirited persons but were not party before NGT. RLDA-Respondent No.1 is a statutory Authority under Ministry of Railways ­ Respondent No.2 established under the Railways Act, 1989 to develop the vacant Railway Land for commercial use for the purpose of generating revenue by nontariff measures. Department of Forests and Wildlife, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi-Respondent No.3, is the governmental organization responsible for the management and conservation of forest and wildlife resources in Delhi, India. Bagmane Developers Private Limited ("BDPL") - Respondent No.4 is a private company engaged in the business of buying, selling, renting and operating of self-owned or leased real estate and Shri R.M. Arif-Respondent No. 5 is the original applicant before the NGT in OA.