JUDGMENT :

Alok Kumar Verma, J.

A Writ Petition (C) No.8729 of 2021 “Gaurav Kumar Bansal Versus National Tiger Conservation Authority” was filed before the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. A Committee of National Tiger Conservation Authority (in short, “NTCA”) was formed. The said Committee submitted its factual report based on field visit regarding illegal construction of bridges, buildings and water bodies by felling of trees between Pakhro Forest Rest House and Kalagarh Rest House in Corbett Tiger Reserve in the State of Uttarakhand and illegal felling of large number of trees in ongoing Pakhro Tiger Safari construction in Kalagarh Tiger Reserve Division. The Committee found that in order to allow illegal construction of roads and buildings in Corbett Tiger Reserve, Forest Officers had forged the Government records. The Committee recommended that all illegal construction in Morghati and Pakhro FRH campuses be demolished and eco-restoration work be undertaken with immediate effect and also the cost incurred for the same to be recovered from the concerned officers. The Committee opined that the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (in short “MoEFCC”)