The Delhi High Court has found a unique way to punish errant parties

The Delhi High Court, it seems, has found a novel way to increase green cover in the capital..After passing similar directions in the 2G case in February, Justice Najmi Waziri has directed the offending parties in a case to plant 50 trees each in Delhi..While allowing an FIR registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 to be quashed, the Delhi High Court has directed the offenders to plant 50 trees each for causing unnecessary burden upon the administrative machinery engaged in the maintenance of law and order..The offences in the FIR being compoundable, the parties had agreed for a settlement. The state government also did not wish to pursue the case any further as “no purpose would be served” by the same. The Court, therefore, agreed to quash the FIR..The FIR pertained to offences under Section 23 of the JJ Act along with Sections 323, 374 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860..The case involved a minor girl child who was kept in illegal confinement for about three months for household labour by her employer couple. She was brought to Delhi by an agent and another person with the consent of her father. The employers had physically assaulted her and failed to pay her the work done during this period..The matter was also examined by the Child Welfare Committee, Delhi, which ordered the employers to pay her Rs. 28,126 as wages and Rs 5000 as compensation..When the employers and others moved the High Court for quashing the FIR, the parties agreed not to pursue the case..While the Court agreed that amicable resolution of cases like the present one is an abiding objective, it imposed costs of Rs.1,50,000 on the employers and Rs 10,000 each on the agent and another person who brought the girl to Delhi. The costs are payable to the complainant within ten days from the date of the order..Additionally, the petitioners had agreed to do social work as a gesture of their remorse. Accordingly, they were directed to plant 50 trees each in Delhi..“…and for this purpose they are directed to report before the Deputy Conservator of Forests (South), GNCTD, on 25.02.2019 at 11.00 am, who shall assign them duties of planting 50 trees each in the plants/trees each in Compensatory Afforestation Schemes or other Schemes. The plants/trees shall be of deciduous indigenous variety with a nursery age of three and a half years, and a height of at least six feet. Depending upon the soil type and topography, the DCF may consider the following types of trees for plantation…”.Furthermore, quarterly updates shall also be obtained by the Deputy Conservator of Forests (South) to monitor and ensure the upkeep of the said plantation..Similarly, the agent and the other person have also offered to participate in the plantation of trees as an expression of their remorse for having put the child through the ordeal. With that, the Court allowed the petition for quashing the FIR..The petitioners were represented by Advocates Sanjeev Sahay and Prerna Sharma. The complainant girl was represented by Advocate Himangi Kapoor. The state government was represented by Standing Counsel Rahul Mehra, Additional Standing Counsel Nandita Rao and Advocate Aman Preet. .Last month, Justice Waziri had also directed certain respondents in appeals preferred by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the trial court’s acquittal in the 2G case, to plant over 15,000 trees for failing to file their replies on time..Read the order: