#Karnataka Forest Act

Karnataka High Court quashed a 12% Forest Development Tax (FDT) demand on timber purchases, holding that such demands cannot proceed until final resolution of pending appeals challenging the tax's constitutional validity. The interim order protects taxpayers from coercive recovery while the legal challenge remains unresolved.

The Karnataka High Court held that the gravity of offences under the Wildlife Protection Act and Karnataka Forest Act, carrying a maximum three-year sentence, cannot justify denying anticipatory bail - reaffirming Arnesh Kumar’s presumption against automatic custody. This reinforces that parallel BNS charges do not automatically override bail principles when no flight risk or evidence tampering is shown, benefiting rural accused in environmental cases.