1. Matters involve environmental clearance for forest land use and regulation of mining in ecologically sensitive areas. (Para 2 , 4 )
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2007 Supreme(SC) 1813
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
K.G. Balakrishnan, CJI., Arijit Pasayat and Mr. S.H. Kapadia, JJ.
T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad - Petitioner
Versus
Union of India & Ors. - Respondent
I. A. Nos. 828 With 833, 834-835, 837-838, 839, 840, 846-847, 850, 853- 854, 855-856, 866-868, 869-870, 871-872, 873-874, 875-876, 877-878, 879- 880,881-882, 891-892, 893-894, 900, 901-902, 903, 904, 905, 1276-1277, 1310- 1310A in I.A. No. 833 in I.A. No. 828, 1329, 1330, 1331-1332, 1450-1452 in 1310, 1465, 1488 in 891-892, 1590, 1612-1613, 2007-2008 and 1700-1703 in W.P.(C)No. 202/1995. With SLP(C) No. 3353/2003 And I.A. No. 1186 in W.P.(C)No. 202/1995 And I.A. No. 1201 in W.P.(C)No. 202/1995 And I.A. No. 1202 and 1206 in W.P.(C)No. 202/1995 And I.A. No.1220 in I.A. No. 548 and 994 in W.P.(C) No. 202/1995 And I.A. No. 1226 and 1231 in W.P.(C) No. 202/1995 And Conmt. Pet.(C) No. 65/2007 in W.P.(C)No. 202/1995 And Conmt. Pet. (C) No. 133/2007 in W.P.(C) No. 202/1995 And I.A. No. 1870-1872 in W.P.(C)No. 202/1995 And I.A. Nos. 1978 in W.P.(C)No. 202/1995 And I.A. No. 1785 in W.P.(C) No. 4677/1985 And I.A. No. 1967 in I.A. No. 1785 in W.P.(C) No. 4677/1985 And I.A. No. 2152 in I.A. No. 1785 in W.P.(C) No. 4677/1985 With I.A. No. 229 in W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985 With I.A. No. 227 in W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985 With I.A. No. 230 in W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985 With I.A. No. 253-254 in W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985 I.A. No. 260 in W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985 I.A. No. 266 in W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985 With I.A. No. 247 in W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985 With I.A. No. 248 in W.P.(C) No.13029/1985 With I.A. No. 249 in W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985 With I.A. No. 250 and 251 in W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985.
Decided On : 14-09-2007
Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner:- Mr. Harish N. Salve, Sr. Adv. (A.C.) (N.P.) Mr. U.U. Lalit, Sr. Adv. (A.C.) Mr. Ranjit Kumar, Sr. Adv.(A.C.) Mr. Kamal Gupta, Adv. (A.C.) Mr. Siddhartha Chowdhury, Adv.(A.C.) Mr. P.K. Manohar, Adv.
For the Appellants in SLP(C) 3353/2003 :- Mr. M.C. Mehta, (In- person) Mr. Aruneshwar Gupta, AAG Mr. Naveen Kumar Singh, Adv. Mr. Shashwat Gupta, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. 1802 :- Mr. Vikas Singh, ASG Mr. Ashok Bhan, Adv. Mrs. Kiran Bhardwaj, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A.229 :- Mr. D.S. Mahra, Adv. Mr. Kuldeep Singh Tomar (In-person)
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 227 :- Mr. Subramonium Prasad, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 230 :- Ms. Vijayalakshmi Menon, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 247,248 and 249 :- Mr. M.C. Dhingra, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 860-870 :- Mr. K.B. Rohatgi, Adv. Ms. Aparna Rohatgi Jain, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 250 in WP 13029/85 :- Mr. Arun Jaitely, Sr. Ad. Mr. Tarun Gulati, Adv. Ms. Bina Gupta, Adv. Mr. Gaurav Singh, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1870-1872 :- Ms. Vinita G. Upadhyay, Adv. Mr. Gidhar G. Upadhyay, Adv. Mr. Vijay Pandita, Adv. Mr. Shivpati B. Pandey, Adv. Mr. R.D. Upadhyay, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1465 :- Mrs. Jayashree Wad, Adv. Mr. Ashish Wad, Adv. Mr. Neeraj Kumar, Adv. Mr. Chirag Dave, Adv.
For the Appellants M/s. J.S. Wad & Co., Advs. in IA 905 :- Mr. Rakesh Khanna, Sr. Adv. Mr. Neeraj Sharma, Adv. Ms. Shailja Sinha, Adv. Mr. Surya Kant, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 2143 :- Mr. S.B. Sanyal, Sr. Adv. Mr. R.K. Gupta, Adv. Mr. A.N. Baradyar, Adv.
For the Conmt. Petition (C) 65/07 :- Mr. Anoop Kr. Srivastava, Adv. Mr. Rameshwar Prasad Goyal, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 266 in WP(C) 13039/85 :- Mr. K.K. Venugopal, Sr. Adv. Mr. Parag P. Tripathi, Sr. Adv. Mr. K.V. Viswanathan, Adv. Ms. Neelima Tripathi, Adv. Mr. K.V. Mohan, Adv. Mr. K.V. Balakrishnan, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1978 :- Mr. Jai Deep Gupta, Sr. Adv. Mr. Bipin Kalappa, Adv. Mr. Ajay K. Dutta, Adv. Mr. N. Ganapathy, Adv. Mr. Praveen Pruthi, Adv. Mr. C.M. Angadi, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1612-13 :- Mr. M.N. Krishnamani, Sr. Adv. Mr. S.L. Kumar, Adv. Mr. B.V.K. Ahluwalia, Adv. Mr. Ajay Majithia, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Adv. Mr. Santosh Kumar, Adv. Dr. Kailash Chand, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. 891-892 and 1488 :- Mr. Gourab Banerjee, Sr. Adv. Mr. D.N. Ray, Adv. Mr. Rajiv Mehta, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 903-904 :- Mr. Rajesh Tyagi, Adv. Dr. Aparana Bhardwaj, Adv. Mr. Praveen Jain, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 834-835 :- Mr. Sunil Dogra, Adv. Mr. Sunita Hazarika, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1450-52 :- Mr. Pallav Shishodia, Adv. Mr. Hemant Sharma, Adv. Mr. D.N. Mishra, Adv.
For the Respondents of UOI:- Mr. Haris Beeran, Adv. Mr. Hrishikesh Barua, Adv. Mr. Ashok Bhan, Adv. Mr. Sunil Roy, Adv. Mrs. Kiran Bhardwaj, Adv. Ms. Rajni Singh, Adv. Mrs. Rekha Pandey, Adv. Mr. R.C. Kathia, Adv.
For the Respondents in SLP(C) 3353/03:- Mr. Manu Nair, Adv.
For the Respondents:- Mr. S.A. Shroff & Co., Advs.
For the Respondents State of Nagaland:- Mr. U. Hazarika, Adv. Mr. Satya Mitra, Adv. Ms. Sumita Hazarika, Adv.
For the State of Raj. :- Mr. Vikas Singh, ASG Mr. Aruneshwar Gupta, AAG, Mr. Naveen Kumar Singh, Adv. Mr. Mukul Sood, Adv. Mr. Shashwat Gupta, Adv. Ms. Shobha, Adv. Ms. Hemantika Wahi, Adv. Ms. Pinky, Adv. Ms. Shivangi, Adv.
For the Respondents in IA 1220 in IA 548:- Ms. Suparna Srivastava, Adv. Ms. Nidhi Minocha, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Srivastava, Adv.
For the Respondents in I.A. No. 253-254:- Mr. Vivek K. Tankha, Sr. Adv. Mr. Anurag Sharma, Adv. Mr. Prashant Kumar, Adv. Mr. Dhruv Mehta, Adv. Mr. Harshvardhan Jha, Adv. Mr. Yashraj Singh Deora, Adv.
For the Respondents M/s. K.L. Mehta & Co., Advs.:- Mr. Amit Kumar, Adv. Mr. Rajiv Dutta, Sr. Adv. Mr. Manjit Singh, AAG Mr. Harikesh Singh, Adv.
For the Respondents Mr. T.V. George, Adv.:- Ms. Shashi B. Upadhyay, Adv. Mr. V. Balachandran, Adv. Mr. E.M.S. Anam, Adv. Mr. Anil Nag, Adv. Mr. Praveen Jain, Adv. Mr. E.C. Vidya Sagar, Adv. Mr. Bimal Roy Jad, Adv. Ms. Sandhya Goswami, Adv. Mr. Pallav Shishodia, Adv. Mr. D.N. Mishra, Adv.
For the Respondents in IA 1785:- Mr. K.B. Rohatgi, Adv. Ms. Aparna Rohatgi Jain, Adv.
For the Respondents in IA 1329-30:- Mr. Dhruv Mehta, Adv. Mr. Aruna Gupta, Adv. Ms. Sumita Hazarika, Adv. Mr. Sushil Kumar Jain, Adv. Mr. Puneet Jain, Adv. Ms. Christi Jain, Adv. Mr. H.D. Thanvi, Adv. Mr. Piyush Jain, Adv.
For the Respondents:- Ms. Pratibha Jain, Adv. Mr. B.V. Deepak, Adv.
For the Respondents in IA 1220 and 1201:- Mr. B.S. Banthia, Adv.
For the Respondents State of M.P.:- Mr. Vikas Upadhyay, Adv. Mr. Sanjay R. Hegde, Adv. Mr. Amit Kr. Chaudhary, Adv. NCT of Delhi Mrs. Asha G. Nair, Adv.
For the Respondents:- Mr. D.S. Mahra, Adv. Ms. Kamini Jaiswal, Adv. Mr. J.S. Attri, AAG, H.P.
For the Respondents in IA 1220 in IA 548:- Mr. P.V. Dinesh, Adv.
For the Respondents State of Kerala:- Mr. K.R. Sasiprabhu, Adv.(N.P.) Mr. G. Prakash, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Srivastava, Adv. Ms. Anil Katiyar, Adv. Mr. Shivaji M. Jadhav, Adv. Mr. Rameshwar Prasad Goyal, Adv. Mr. Kamlednra Mishra, Adv. Mr. Sushil Kumar Jain, Adv.
For the Respondents NCT of Delhi Urban:- Mr. D.N. Goburdhan, Adv. Devl. Ms. Pinky Anand, Adv. Mr. Vijay Panjwani, Adv. Mr. Goodwill Indeever, Adv.
For the Respondents MCD:- Mr. Sanjiv Sen, Adv. Mr. Praveen Swarup, Adv.
For the Respondents State of U.P.:- Mr. S.K. Dwivedi, AAG, Mr. S.W.A. Qadri, Adv. Mr. A.K. Jha, Adv. Mr. Vijay Pratap Singh, Ad. Mr. Samir Ali Khan, Adv. D/o Transport, Delhi Police Mr. T.S. Doabia, Sr. Adv. Mr. S. Wasim A. Qadri, Adv. Mr. D.S. Mehra, Adv. Mr. Pavan Kumar, Adv. Mr. S.N. Terdal, Adv. Mr. Vishnu B. Saharya, Adv.
For the Respondents M/s. Saharya & Co., Advs.:- Mr. K.V. Mohan, Adv. Mr. Sri Narain, Adv. Mr. B.K. Prasad, Adv. Mr. A.D.N. Rao, Adv.
For the Respondents UT Chandigarh:- Ms. Kamini Jaiswa, Adv. Mr. Saurav Datta, Adv.
For the Respondents State of Mizoram:- Mr. K.N. Madhusoodhanan, Adv. Mr. R. Sathish, Adv. H.S.I.D.C Mr. Ravindra Bana, Adv.
For the Respondents Tata Steel:- Mr. R.N. Karanjawala, Adv. Ms. Nandini Gore, Adv. Mr. Debmalya Banerjee, Adv. Ms. Manik Karanjawala, Adv.
For the Respondents State of Punjab:- Mr. Kuldip Singh, Adv. Mr. R.K. Pandey, Adv. Mr. T.P. Mishra, Adv. Mr. H.S. Sandhu, Adv.
For the Respondents of State of Tripura:- Mr. Anukul Raj, Adv. Mr. Ritu Raj Biswas, Adv. Mr. Gopal Singh, Adv.
For the Respondents of State of Bihar:- Mr. Anukul Raj, Adv. Mr. Ritu Raj Biswas, Adv. Mr. Gopal Singh, Adv.
For the State of Manipur :- Mr. KH Nobin Singh, Adv. Mr. Tarun Jamwal, Adv. Mr. David Rao, Adv.
For the Petitioner:- Mr. Harish N. Salve, Sr. Adv. (A.C.) (N.P.) Mr. U.U. Lalit, Sr. Adv. (A.C.) Mr. Ranjit Kumar, Sr. Adv.(A.C.) Mr. Kamal Gupta, Adv. (A.C.) Mr. Siddhartha Chowdhury, Adv.(A.C.) Mr. P.K. Manohar, Adv.
For the Appellants in SLP(C) 3353/2003 :- Mr. M.C. Mehta, (In- person) Mr. Aruneshwar Gupta, AAG Mr. Naveen Kumar Singh, Adv. Mr. Shashwat Gupta, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. 1802 :- Mr. Vikas Singh, ASG Mr. Ashok Bhan, Adv. Mrs. Kiran Bhardwaj, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A.229 :- Mr. D.S. Mahra, Adv. Mr. Kuldeep Singh Tomar (In-person)
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 227 :- Mr. Subramonium Prasad, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 230 :- Ms. Vijayalakshmi Menon, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 247,248 and 249 :- Mr. M.C. Dhingra, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 860-870 :- Mr. K.B. Rohatgi, Adv. Ms. Aparna Rohatgi Jain, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 250 in WP 13029/85 :- Mr. Arun Jaitely, Sr. Ad. Mr. Tarun Gulati, Adv. Ms. Bina Gupta, Adv. Mr. Gaurav Singh, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1870-1872 :- Ms. Vinita G. Upadhyay, Adv. Mr. Gidhar G. Upadhyay, Adv. Mr. Vijay Pandita, Adv. Mr. Shivpati B. Pandey, Adv. Mr. R.D. Upadhyay, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1465 :- Mrs. Jayashree Wad, Adv. Mr. Ashish Wad, Adv. Mr. Neeraj Kumar, Adv. Mr. Chirag Dave, Adv.
For the Appellants M/s. J.S. Wad & Co., Advs. in IA 905 :- Mr. Rakesh Khanna, Sr. Adv. Mr. Neeraj Sharma, Adv. Ms. Shailja Sinha, Adv. Mr. Surya Kant, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 2143 :- Mr. S.B. Sanyal, Sr. Adv. Mr. R.K. Gupta, Adv. Mr. A.N. Baradyar, Adv.
For the Conmt. Petition (C) 65/07 :- Mr. Anoop Kr. Srivastava, Adv. Mr. Rameshwar Prasad Goyal, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. No. 266 in WP(C) 13039/85 :- Mr. K.K. Venugopal, Sr. Adv. Mr. Parag P. Tripathi, Sr. Adv. Mr. K.V. Viswanathan, Adv. Ms. Neelima Tripathi, Adv. Mr. K.V. Mohan, Adv. Mr. K.V. Balakrishnan, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1978 :- Mr. Jai Deep Gupta, Sr. Adv. Mr. Bipin Kalappa, Adv. Mr. Ajay K. Dutta, Adv. Mr. N. Ganapathy, Adv. Mr. Praveen Pruthi, Adv. Mr. C.M. Angadi, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1612-13 :- Mr. M.N. Krishnamani, Sr. Adv. Mr. S.L. Kumar, Adv. Mr. B.V.K. Ahluwalia, Adv. Mr. Ajay Majithia, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Adv. Mr. Santosh Kumar, Adv. Dr. Kailash Chand, Adv.
For the Appellants in I.A. 891-892 and 1488 :- Mr. Gourab Banerjee, Sr. Adv. Mr. D.N. Ray, Adv. Mr. Rajiv Mehta, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 903-904 :- Mr. Rajesh Tyagi, Adv. Dr. Aparana Bhardwaj, Adv. Mr. Praveen Jain, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 834-835 :- Mr. Sunil Dogra, Adv. Mr. Sunita Hazarika, Adv.
For the Appellants in IA 1450-52 :- Mr. Pallav Shishodia, Adv. Mr. Hemant Sharma, Adv. Mr. D.N. Mishra, Adv.
For the Respondents of UOI:- Mr. Haris Beeran, Adv. Mr. Hrishikesh Barua, Adv. Mr. Ashok Bhan, Adv. Mr. Sunil Roy, Adv. Mrs. Kiran Bhardwaj, Adv. Ms. Rajni Singh, Adv. Mrs. Rekha Pandey, Adv. Mr. R.C. Kathia, Adv.
For the Respondents in SLP(C) 3353/03:- Mr. Manu Nair, Adv.
For the Respondents:- Mr. S.A. Shroff & Co., Advs.
For the Respondents State of Nagaland:- Mr. U. Hazarika, Adv. Mr. Satya Mitra, Adv. Ms. Sumita Hazarika, Adv.
For the State of Raj. :- Mr. Vikas Singh, ASG Mr. Aruneshwar Gupta, AAG, Mr. Naveen Kumar Singh, Adv. Mr. Mukul Sood, Adv. Mr. Shashwat Gupta, Adv. Ms. Shobha, Adv. Ms. Hemantika Wahi, Adv. Ms. Pinky, Adv. Ms. Shivangi, Adv.
For the Respondents in IA 1220 in IA 548:- Ms. Suparna Srivastava, Adv. Ms. Nidhi Minocha, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Srivastava, Adv.
For the Respondents in I.A. No. 253-254:- Mr. Vivek K. Tankha, Sr. Adv. Mr. Anurag Sharma, Adv. Mr. Prashant Kumar, Adv. Mr. Dhruv Mehta, Adv. Mr. Harshvardhan Jha, Adv. Mr. Yashraj Singh Deora, Adv.
For the Respondents M/s. K.L. Mehta & Co., Advs.:- Mr. Amit Kumar, Adv. Mr. Rajiv Dutta, Sr. Adv. Mr. Manjit Singh, AAG Mr. Harikesh Singh, Adv.
For the Respondents Mr. T.V. George, Adv.:- Ms. Shashi B. Upadhyay, Adv. Mr. V. Balachandran, Adv. Mr. E.M.S. Anam, Adv. Mr. Anil Nag, Adv. Mr. Praveen Jain, Adv. Mr. E.C. Vidya Sagar, Adv. Mr. Bimal Roy Jad, Adv. Ms. Sandhya Goswami, Adv. Mr. Pallav Shishodia, Adv. Mr. D.N. Mishra, Adv.
For the Respondents in IA 1785:- Mr. K.B. Rohatgi, Adv. Ms. Aparna Rohatgi Jain, Adv.
For the Respondents in IA 1329-30:- Mr. Dhruv Mehta, Adv. Mr. Aruna Gupta, Adv. Ms. Sumita Hazarika, Adv. Mr. Sushil Kumar Jain, Adv. Mr. Puneet Jain, Adv. Ms. Christi Jain, Adv. Mr. H.D. Thanvi, Adv. Mr. Piyush Jain, Adv.
For the Respondents:- Ms. Pratibha Jain, Adv. Mr. B.V. Deepak, Adv.
For the Respondents in IA 1220 and 1201:- Mr. B.S. Banthia, Adv.
For the Respondents State of M.P.:- Mr. Vikas Upadhyay, Adv. Mr. Sanjay R. Hegde, Adv. Mr. Amit Kr. Chaudhary, Adv. NCT of Delhi Mrs. Asha G. Nair, Adv.
For the Respondents:- Mr. D.S. Mahra, Adv. Ms. Kamini Jaiswal, Adv. Mr. J.S. Attri, AAG, H.P.
For the Respondents in IA 1220 in IA 548:- Mr. P.V. Dinesh, Adv.
For the Respondents State of Kerala:- Mr. K.R. Sasiprabhu, Adv.(N.P.) Mr. G. Prakash, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Srivastava, Adv. Ms. Anil Katiyar, Adv. Mr. Shivaji M. Jadhav, Adv. Mr. Rameshwar Prasad Goyal, Adv. Mr. Kamlednra Mishra, Adv. Mr. Sushil Kumar Jain, Adv.
For the Respondents NCT of Delhi Urban:- Mr. D.N. Goburdhan, Adv. Devl. Ms. Pinky Anand, Adv. Mr. Vijay Panjwani, Adv. Mr. Goodwill Indeever, Adv.
For the Respondents MCD:- Mr. Sanjiv Sen, Adv. Mr. Praveen Swarup, Adv.
For the Respondents State of U.P.:- Mr. S.K. Dwivedi, AAG, Mr. S.W.A. Qadri, Adv. Mr. A.K. Jha, Adv. Mr. Vijay Pratap Singh, Ad. Mr. Samir Ali Khan, Adv. D/o Transport, Delhi Police Mr. T.S. Doabia, Sr. Adv. Mr. S. Wasim A. Qadri, Adv. Mr. D.S. Mehra, Adv. Mr. Pavan Kumar, Adv. Mr. S.N. Terdal, Adv. Mr. Vishnu B. Saharya, Adv.
For the Respondents M/s. Saharya & Co., Advs.:- Mr. K.V. Mohan, Adv. Mr. Sri Narain, Adv. Mr. B.K. Prasad, Adv. Mr. A.D.N. Rao, Adv.
For the Respondents UT Chandigarh:- Ms. Kamini Jaiswa, Adv. Mr. Saurav Datta, Adv.
For the Respondents State of Mizoram:- Mr. K.N. Madhusoodhanan, Adv. Mr. R. Sathish, Adv. H.S.I.D.C Mr. Ravindra Bana, Adv.
For the Respondents Tata Steel:- Mr. R.N. Karanjawala, Adv. Ms. Nandini Gore, Adv. Mr. Debmalya Banerjee, Adv. Ms. Manik Karanjawala, Adv.
For the Respondents State of Punjab:- Mr. Kuldip Singh, Adv. Mr. R.K. Pandey, Adv. Mr. T.P. Mishra, Adv. Mr. H.S. Sandhu, Adv.
For the Respondents of State of Tripura:- Mr. Anukul Raj, Adv. Mr. Ritu Raj Biswas, Adv. Mr. Gopal Singh, Adv.
For the Respondents of State of Bihar:- Mr. Anukul Raj, Adv. Mr. Ritu Raj Biswas, Adv. Mr. Gopal Singh, Adv.
For the State of Manipur :- Mr. KH Nobin Singh, Adv. Mr. Tarun Jamwal, Adv. Mr. David Rao, Adv.
The court permitted essential forest management activities and basic rural infrastructure (water, electricity, health, and education) in protected forest areas, provided no trees are felled, balancing conservation requirements with administrative necessity and basic community welfare.
Headnote:(A) Forest Conservation - Permitted non-forest activities - Clarification of activities permissible in forest areas despite general prohibitions on non-forest use - Essential activities for forest maintenance and protection, including removal of weeds, creation of fire lines, maintenance of fair weather roads, habitat improvement, and construction of anti-poaching camps and check posts, are permitted (Paras 12 and 13).
(B) Rural Infrastructure - Basic amenities in forest areas - Permit granted for laying underground drinking water pipelines (up to 4 inch diameter), 11 KV electricity distribution lines, telephone or optical fiber lines, and construction of wells or hand pumps for villagers awaiting relocation (Para 13).
(C) Public Services - Construction of primary child care centers, government schools, and government dispensaries essential for inhabitants near forest areas is permitted, provided no trees are felled (Para 14).
Facts of the case:
The court was monitoring various applications concerning the use of forest land for a technical research centre, mining activities in certain hilly regions, and a request for clarification regarding permitted activities in forest areas in light of a prior order that generally prohibited non-forest activities, including tree felling and the construction of commercial complexes.
Findings of Court:
The court found that while general non-forest activities remain prohibited, there is a necessity to permit specific tasks essential for forest administration and the basic survival and welfare of the inhabitants residing near or within forest areas.
Issues: Whether specific essential activities for forest management and basic rural infrastructure (health, education, and utilities) can be permitted within forest areas despite a general prohibition on non-forest activities.
Ratio Decidendi: The court reasoned that activities required for the protection and supervision of forests, as well as those providing essential social infrastructure to the local population, are permissible as they serve a necessary public and administrative purpose. Such permissions are granted on the condition that they do not involve the felling of trees, thereby balancing environmental protection with basic human needs.
Result: Clarifications regarding permitted activities provided; other interlocutory applications adjourned or notices issued.
Legal Category Hierarchy
- environmental law
- practice and procedure
Table of Contents
2. Parties seek permission for non-forest activities; state submits lack of CNG supply for buses. (Para 9 , 32 , 35 )
3. Court permits essential forest management activities and non-commercial public utilities in protected areas. (Para 12 , 13 , 14 )
4. Activities essential for forest conservation and basic public welfare are permitted even if not explicitly allowed by prior orders. (Para 13 , 14 )
5. Multiple I.A.s disposed of with directions for environmental clearance, reports, and permission for forest management activities. (Para 3 , 16 , 31 )
6. What activities are permitted in forest areas that are not commercial?
Activities essential for forest maintenance such as weed removal, fire lines, and small-scale public utilities like pipelines and wells are permitted. (Para 12 , 13 , 14 )
7. What is required for using forest land for non-forest purposes?
The Ministry of Environment and Forests must take a decision on the use of forest land for non-forest purposes. (Para 2 )
8. How are contempt petitions treated in environmental matters?
Contempt petitions are treated as interlocutory applications; notices issued and the CEC files a report. (Para 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 )
9. What is the procedure for allocation of CNG for public buses?
The court issues notice to GAIL and the Ministry of Petroleum to report on CNG allocation for Haryana government buses. (Para 32 , 33 , 34 )
ORDER :
Dr. Arijit Pasayat, J.
1. Taken on Board.
2. The matter relates to the setting up of a Technical Research Centre by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Union Ministry of Defence. The CEC has filed a report stating that the area wherein the proposed construction is to be made is not part of National Park or a Wildlife Sanctuary. The MOEF has to take decision as regards the use of forest land for non forest purposes. The proposal may be considered by the MOEF and decision be taken and the decision may be communicated to this Court.
3. I.A. is disposed of this Court.
I.A. No. 828 With 833, 834-835, 837-838, 839, 840, 846-847, 850, 853- 854, 855-856, 866-868, 869-870, 871-872, 873-874, 875-876, 877-878, 879- 880,881-882, 891-892, 893-894, 900, 901-902, 903, 904, 905, 1276-1277, 1310- 1310A in I.A. No. 833 in I.A. No. 828, 1329, 1330, 1331-1332, 1450-1452 in 1310, 1465, 1488 in 891-892, 1590, 1612-1613, 2007-2008 and 1700-1703 in W.P.(C)No. 202/1995:
4. All these matters relate to mining activities in Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan and Haryana. The CEC has filed a monitoring report. The CEC will make available a copy of the report to the various parties. The parties would be at liberty to file their response to the CEC report in the form of affidavits within a period of four weeks.
5. I.A. No. 1785 in W.P.(C) No. 4677/12985 and I.A. No.1967 & 2152 in I.A. 1785 and I.A. No. 2143 in W.P.(C) 4677/12985 be also posted along with these Matters.
6. MOEF has not filed any fresh report. MOEF may file fresh report in response to the averments made in the I.A.
7. Post only these matters on 25.10.2007 by constituting a special Bench for the whole day.
I.A. No. 1186 in W.P.(C) No. 202/1995
8. Adjourned. Post on 28.9.2007.
9. Pursuant to our directions the CEC has filed a report regarding the incident that happened in August, 1999. The counsel for the State of M.P. would like to file response to the report filed by the CEC. Four weeks time is granted for the same.
10. List on 12.10.2007.
I.A. No. 1202 & 1206 in W.P.(C) No. 202/1995
11. Adjourned. Post on 5.10.2007.
I.A. No. 1220 in I.A.NO. 548 & 994 IN W.P.202/1995
12. The CEC has filed an interim report wherein it has stated that this Court passed an order dated 14.2.2000 by which certain activities were expressly prohibited and that included :
(i) felling of trees and their removal;
(ii) removal of bamboo or grasses for any purpose whatsoever;
(iii) removal of corals and other living forms from marine national parks/sanctuaries;
(iv) construction of tourist complexes, hotels and restaurants, zoos and safari parks or any other building not for direct use for protection and management of wildlife and its habitat; and other non-forest activities.
13. But it was not specifically stated as to what permitted activities could be done in the forest which may not have any commercial concern. In the CEC report it has been stated that the removal of weeds, clearing and burning of vegetation for fire lines, maintenance of fair weather roads, habitat improvement, digging, temporary water holes, construction of anti-poaching camps, chowkies, check posts etc. may be essential for maintenance of forests and for the prohibition and supervision of the forests for the Forest Department. We permit all these activities to be done though they do not come within the purpose of Order passed on 14.2.2000. It is also stated that the following activities may also be permitted :
(i) laying of underground drinking water pipelines up to 4 inch diameter;
(ii) laying of 11 KV distribution lines for supply of electricity to rural areas;
(iii)laying of telephone lines or optical fiber for providing communication facilities in rural areas;
(iv) wells, hand pumps, small water tanks etc. for providing drinking water facilities to villagers, who are yet to be relocated from the protected area.
14. In addition to the above, the Anganwadies, Government schools and Government dispensaries which are esse
