On May 1, 2025, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed its stringent environmental protections around the Taj Mahal by mandating that no tree felling within a 5-kilometer aerial radius of the monument can occur without the Court’s explicit permission. This decision reinstates the Court’s 2015 directive, which had been partially relaxed in 2019 to allow tree felling on non-forest and private lands within the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) without prior approval. The TTZ is a 10,400 square kilometer area encompassing parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, designated to protect the Taj Mahal from environmental degradation .

The Court emphasized that any request to fell trees within this 5-kilometer zone, regardless of the number of trees involved, must be submitted to the Supreme Court. Such applications will be reviewed by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for recommendations before the Court decides on granting permission .

For areas within the TTZ but beyond the 5-kilometer radius, tree felling is permitted only with prior approval from the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) or the CEC, in accordance with the Uttar Pradesh Tree Preservation Act. This Act mandates compensatory planting of two trees for every tree felled, unless specifically exempted. Unauthorized tree felling or violation of permission conditions can result in imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to one thousand rupees .

The Court also directed the DFO to ensure that no tree felling occurs until all preconditions, including compensatory afforestation, are fulfilled. Only in cases of grave urgency, where delay may lead to loss of human life, can immediate tree felling be considered without prior compliance .

Additionally, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea by an Agra-based trust seeking relaxation of the condition requiring prior approval for cutting trees on private land within the protected zone .

In a related development, the Court has instructed the Forest Research Institute to conduct a comprehensive tree census within the TTZ. This initiative aims to gather accurate data on existing tree cover, essential for enforcing conservation laws effectively .

This ruling underscores the Supreme Court’s commitment to preserving the ecological integrity of the area surrounding the Taj Mahal, ensuring that both public and private entities adhere to strict environmental safeguards.

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