The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a status quo in the matter involving the axing of thousands of trees in Mumbai’s Aarey area to clear the area for the construction of infrastructure for the Mumbai Metro.

The court also directed that all individuals who have been detained for protesting the government’s action be released immediately.

Further, observing that it “appeared Aarey was a forest at some point of time”, the court asked the state government to submit a status report on the number of trees felled so far and the compulsory afforestation efforts of Mumbai Metro.

Speaking to National Herald, Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde, who appeared for the petitioners, said that it was an interim order to maintain status quo in the matter. “The court did not stay the judgment of Bombay High Court. I expressed the apprehension that in the garb of clearing the already-axed trees, more trees would be cut, after which the court passed the orders to maintain status quo in the matter.”