Observing that damage to environment cannot be undone, the Delhi High Court on Thursday extended till further orders the ban on axing of 16,500 trees for the construction of high-rise residential quarters for central government employees in the national capital. It directed the Centre to submit all the files pertaining to grant of environment clearance for the project.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar said: "The damage to the environment is irreplaceable." The court also observed that the redevelopment project would worsen the traffic and pollution problems of the city.