JUDGMENT

Delivered by Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member

1. The above case has been Suo Motu registered by the Principal Bench as O.A. No. 114 of 2024 (PB) based on the news item published in the Times of India dated 31.12.2023 titled “Forest dept objects to operating flights over protected areas” which was transferred to this Bench and re-numbered as O.A. No. 88 of

2024(SZ).

2. It is stated in the news report that a chartered helicopter flew over Mudhumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) and the protected area of Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris. The report also contains the stand of the Forest Department to avoid forest and protected areas while designating paths for choppers and flights.

3. The Deputy Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, filed status report on behalf of the 1^st respondent. It is stated in the report that on enquiry by the Deputy Director on 30.12.2023, it came to the knowledge that Assistant General Manager, Public Relations, Tractor and Farm Equipments Ltd., had submitted an application dated 20.12.2023 for the permission of helicopter operation to the District Collector, Nilgiris District for the visit of Th. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus and Tmt. M