“The last PTA meeting was held in May and it has been over 45 days that the meeting has not been convened,” PTA member Haji Zaakir Mouddin Sheikh, said.

As per the Tree Act, the tree authority must meet atleast once in a month. At the most there can be a 45 day gap between meetings.

With the civic administration not convening the meeting for long, the PTA members that have been alleging it of violating the Act has taken a tough stand.

In a letter written to the state Urban Development Ministry bringing into its notice the failure of civic administration in convening the meeting, Sheikh said the state government should not take any action against PTA members for the failure of meeting to be held within the stipulated time as per the Act.

“You never know anyone can seek action against PTA member since the meeting has not take place for long. I do not want to suffer for the mistake of the civic administration,” he said, adding, this is to safeguard the authority members from any action.

Sheikh has also written to the Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade saying the delay in holding the meeting is damaging the image of PTA in the public.

“The court has put restrictions on tree cutting. But, the civic administration is not convening the meeting on that pretext. It will show us in bad light as people will think that the PTA is only for tree cutting,” Sheikh said.

Another PTA member Ketaki Ghate said, “I have been constantly reminding the PMC Garden department for convening the meeting, but there has been no firm response from them”.

The court directions are being cited as the reason for delay in holding meeting, she said adding the PTA does not merely deals with tree cutting and its responsibility is to conserve and promote greenery.

There are various activities on environment awareness on which the PTA can decide on and also there has been no pre-monsoon meeting held so far that deals with tree plantation drive, Ghate said. BJP corporator and PTA member Medha Patkar said she too has been insisting on convening the meeting of the tree authority as per the Act. There can be discussions on various issues that can be done in the meeting and if need be the decision can wait till the court clearance, but the meeting should be held regularly, she said.

PMC garden department superintendent Bhanudas Mane said the meeting was delayed as they were busy studying the court directions. “We will soon hold a meeting of PTA. We were unable to decide on whether it would be contempt of court if the meeting is convened,” he said.

Since the court has clarified that there are no restrictions on trimming of trees that are causing grave danger, Mane said the court has put no restrictions on holding the meetings.