Aarey Colony, a green belt in suburban Goregaon which has more than 5 lakh trees

No more trees need to be cut in Mumbai's Aarey and those that needed to be removed have been cut, the Maharashtra government today told the Supreme Court. The court said no more trees would be cut in the area until the next hearing on October 21. On Sunday, 29 activists, arrested for protesting against it on Friday night, were given conditional bail by court. The two-judge bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Ashok Bhushan was constituted after a group of law students wrote to Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi seeking the top court's intervention in the matter and the cutting of trees to be suspended immediately.

Here are the live updates of Mumbai Aarey issue:

Oct 07, 2019 12:10 (IST) Don't cut anymore trees, says SC on Mumbai's Aarey

The Supreme Court has restrained authorities from cutting anymore trees in Mumbai's Aarey to set up a Metro car shed.

A special bench comprising justices Arun Mishra and Ashok Bhushan said it will have to examine the entire thing and posted the matter for hearing on October 21 before its forest bench.

"Don't cut anything now," the bench said.

The felling of trees is being opposed by green activists and local residents.

The apex court directed that if anybody is still under arrest for protesting the cutting of trees, they should be released forthwith on furnishing of personal bonds.

During the hearing the Maharashtra Government told the bench that all those arrested for protesting against cutting of trees in Aarey have been released.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Maharashtra Government, submitted that he was not aware of all records and assured the bench that nothing will be cut in Aarey till the case is decided.

The PIL petitioners told the bench that Aarey forest was deemed as an "unclassified forest" by the state government and felling of of trees was illegal.

However, after perusing the notification issued by the Maharashtra government, the bench said, Aarey area is a no development zone and not a eco-sensitive zone as claimed by the petitioner.

The apex court decided on Sunday to register as PIL a letter addressed to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by law student Rishav Ranjan seeking a stay on cutting of trees.

A notice was posted on the Supreme Court website about holding the urgent hearing by constituting a special bench.

The Bombay High Court had on October 4 refused to declare Aarey Colony a forest and declined to quash the Mumbai municipal corporation's decision to allow felling of over 2,600 trees in the green zone to set up a metro car shed.

The letter states,"As we write this letter to you Mumbai authorities continue to kill the lungs of Mumbai i.e Aarey forest by clearing of trees near Mithi river bank and according to news reports 1,500 trees have already been cleared by authorities.

"Not only this but our friends are put in jail who were peacefully organising a vigil against acts of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) with Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) at the site."

The student requested the Supreme Court "to exercise its epistolary jurisdiction to protect Aarey without getting into technicalities as there was no time for preparation of a proper appeal petition and cover the scars of these young activists who are responsible citizens standing for serious environmental concerns".

It also said that students have moved the apex court as the Bombay High Court rejected the bail plea of 29 activists who had participated in the "peaceful vigil" against the tree-felling and have been detained by Mumbai Police.

The letter has alleged that the student-activists were abused and manhandled by the Mumbai Police which has booked them for offences of ''assault on a public servant to deter him from discharging his duty'' and ''unlawful assembly'' under the IPC.

According to the letter, Aarey forest is located adjacent to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and has five lakh trees.

The trees were proposed to be cut for Mumbai metro-3 project and specifically for construction of a car shed, it said and added the high court refused to recognise Aarey as a forest or declare it as an ecological sensitive issue because of jurisdictional limits.

The police on Saturday imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Aarey, restricting movement and gathering of groups, and cordoned off the area.

Oct 07, 2019 10:37 (IST) Supreme Court asks Maharashtra Government to not cut more trees at Aarey Colony.

Supreme Court forest bench to hear plea regarding felling of trees in Aarey on October 21.

All those arrested for protesting against cutting of trees in Aarey released, Maharashtra government to Supreme Court.

Judge asks for papers to prove this area is eco-sensitive zone.

If anybody is still under arrest they be released forthwith on furnishing of personal bonds, says Supreme Court

Aarey forest was deemed as "unclassified forest" by state govt and felling of trees is illegal, petitioner tells Supreme Court.

Oct 07, 2019 10:12 (IST) The Supreme Court has commenced hearing on a plea against felling of trees in Mumbai's Aarey to set up a Metro car shed.

A special bench of justices Arun Mishra and Ashok Bhushan started hearing the plea filed by a law student on the felling of trees.

The felling of trees is being opposed by green activists and local residents.

The apex court decided on Sunday to register as PIL a letter addressed to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by law student Rishav Ranjan seeking a stay on the cutting of trees.

A notice was posted on the Supreme Court website about holding the urgent hearing.

Oct 07, 2019 09:54 (IST) Section 144 was relaxed never lifted at Aarey in Mumbai.

Oct 07, 2019 09:43 (IST) Trees don't have the right to vote, so order should be given to murder them: Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena slammed the central and state government over the "murder" of trees in Mumbai's Aarey Colony, saying none got affected by the "massacre".

Comparing the felling of trees in Mumbai's Aarey Colony with fire in Amazon forest, Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece "Saamna" said that when the latter happened people broke down. However, here neither the Prime Minister got emotional, nor the Chief Minister seemed worried.

"Trees don''t have the right to vote, so order should be given to "murder" them. What kind of justice is this?" the party stated in its mouthpiece ''Saamana''.

Shiv Sena stated that they are not opposing the development work, but are against the cutting of trees."

Oct 07, 2019 09:00 (IST) Activists and locals hold placards to protest against cutting of trees in Aarey Colony in Mumbai.

Oct 07, 2019 08:58 (IST) An activist holds a placard during a protest against cutting down of trees for a proposed metro car shed.

Oct 07, 2019 08:56 (IST) Mumbai, Aarey Forest: Supreme Court To Hear Case For Mumbai's Aarey Trees Today, Activists Get Bail

Aarey colony news: A special bench of the Supreme Court will hear a case on Monday against the cutting of trees in Mumbai's Aarey colony for the city's metro rail project. At another court on Sunday, 29 activists, arrested for protesting against it on Friday night, were given conditional bail." Aarey colony news: A special bench of the Supreme Court will hear a case on Monday against the cutting of trees in Mumbai's Aarey colony for the city's metro rail project. At another court on Sunday, 29 activists, arrested for protesting against it on Friday night, were given conditional bail."