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The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 regulates diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes in India and requires prior central government approval. This page provides latest judgments, case analyses, and updates from the National Green Tribunal, Supreme Court.
Bombay HC permits felling of 8.2188 hectares of mangroves for a 132KV transmission line subject to strict 10-year compliance monitoring and annual status reports. The ruling balances public infrastructure needs with environmental protection under the Forest Conservation Act.
Bombay HC rules that once land vests in the Central Government under the National Highways Act, 1956, compensation must be disbursed immediately, irrespective of forest status under the Forest Conservation Act. The court directed payment within six weeks with 9% interest, emphasizing that procedural delays cannot prejudice landowners' right to compensation.
The Supreme Court ruled that an approved Master Plan under the Delhi Development Act overrides deemed forest status claims under the Forest (Conservation) Act, even if tree growth occurred post-acquisition. This binding precedent clarifies that statutory urban development plans take precedence over subsequent environmental classifications, impacting railway land development and urban planning authorities.
NGT invokes suo motu powers to halt illegal hill-cutting in Himachal Pradesh after a citizen's complaint, ordering joint inspections by forest, mining, and pollution control authorities. The ruling mandates production of environmental clearances and imposes a stop-work order until legality is verified, setting a precedent for public grievances in environmental violations.
The Bombay High Court ruled that once land is declared agricultural under final orders of the Maharashtra Private Forest Act, 1975, state authorities cannot invoke the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 to block revenue record mutation. The judgment reinforces the binding nature of concurrent orders under the MPF Act, ensuring landowners' rights to updated revenue records are protected against conflicting forest laws.
NGT holds that challenge to a consequential tree felling order becomes infructuous once work is completed, reinforcing procedural limits on appellate remedies under the Forest (Conservation) Act.
Madhya Pradesh High Court holds that sale deeds executed after forest notification cannot confer title; rights to forest land require Central Government approval under FC Act, 1980.
NGT holds that pre-1980 public roads recorded as 'Gair Mumkin Sadak' in revenue records are exempt from Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, affirming customary easement rights.
NGT dismisses generic petition on mass tree felling in Bolangir, holding that environmental litigation demands specific, substantiated allegations-not general grievances.