NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court has directed the members of two families involved in a fight to plant 400 saplings in their areas to put an end to their “negative energy” by contributing to the society.

The court also directed them to take care of the plants for five years.
In an order dated July 24, the single-judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said that both the parties had settled the matter voluntarily and without any fear, force or coercion. “However, I consider that the negative energy of the parties should be put to an end by directing them to contribute to the society. Hence, the petitioners in both the cases are directed to plant 200 trees each in their areas.”

The bench has called for a compliance report in the matter in November this year. The investigation officer has been asked to ensure compliance with the order as well as to explore the possibility of geotagging the saplings for proper monitoring by the appropriate authority. The place shall be identified by the investigation officer with the consultation of the horticulture department and the officer shall inform the petitioners in 15 days advance, the court stated.
The court quashed the proceedings in two criminal cases registered by the two families against each other for the alleged offences of voluntarily causing hurt, house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation and attempt to commit culpable homicide.
One of the cases was registered by Arpit Jaiswal. He claimed that on March 4, 2017, one Vinod Jha and his sons Narender Jha and Satendra Kumar Jha came in front of his house and asked for their IDs for the purpose of getting them blankets, which was to be distributed by a political party candidate. However, the complainant said that they were supporters of another political party. Both the families initially entered in a verbal dispute, which escalated into a physical fight and his family members were assaulted, Jaiswal claimed.
In the second FIR, Vinod Jha alleged that while he, his sons and others were collecting the IDs for the purpose of distributing blankets, the other family picked up a quarrel with them and beat them up.
Both sides agreed to settle the matter in January this year.