New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (October 7) restrained authorities from cutting trees in Mumbai's Aarey Forest to set up a metro car shed.

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

Green activists and residents are opposing the felling of trees.

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.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) started axing the trees on Friday night after the Bombay High Court rejected a bunch of petitions filed by NGOs and activists against the tree felling. 

Resolved to save the trees, many protestors gathered at the site to raise their voice against the felling of trees. Later, more people joined the protest near the Aarey colony area, where the Mumbai Police imposed Section 144, thereby banning unlawful assembly.

The protesters had been demanding the relocation of the bus depot, which is a part of the Metro III project.

The police detained at least 84 protestors for allegedly disturbing public order and obstructing government officials from performing their duties. Twenty-nine out of 84 protestors were sent to five-day judicial custody by a local court on Saturday. The 29 protestors were granted bail on Sunday by Dindoshi court on a cash bond of Rs 7,000 each and asked to appear at the police station for further inquiry.