1. This Public Interest Litigation is filed in respect of the Forest land on both sides of the National Highway - 85 of the Neriamangalam - Valara stretch in Idukki District in the State of Kerala.

2. Respondent No. 1 is the Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Ministry of Environment); Respondent No.2 - the Chief Secretary; Respondent No.3 - the Principal Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD); Respondent No.4 - the Principal Secretary - Forest and Wildlife Department; Respondent Nos. 5, 6, 8, 13, 14 and 15 - the Officers of the Forest Department, Respondent No.7 - the District Collector; Respondent Nos. 9, 10 and 17 - the Project Director and Executive Engineer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the NHAI through the Chairman and Respondent No.16 - the Contractor.

3. The NHAI is carrying on widening of the National Highway - 85 of the Kochi - Madurai Road. According to the Petitioner, the land on the Neriamangalam - Valara stretch is a reserved forest and, therefore, nonforest activities in a reserved forest, contrary to the Kerala Forest Act, 1961 (Act 4 of 1962) read with the Forest (Conservation) Act, 19