Chandigarh, June 27 -- Realty major DLF on Thursday told the Punjab and Haryana high court that it holds valid licenses and all required permissions for developing DLF Phase-5 in Gurugram, where a section of people are protesting alleged tree felling.

Senior advocates Randeep Rai and Chetan Mittal, appearing for DLF, made these submissions during proceedings of a suo motu PIL initiated on June 19. The PIL followed a news report that locals and environmentalists had opposed the felling of nearly 2,000 trees across an estimated 40 acres of land in DLF Phase-5, claiming it would lead to "destruction of the Aravallis".

While DLF is yet to submit a formal response, its counsel orally told the court that the company owned the land prior to 19...