#satellite imagery

Kerala High Court quashed an order rejecting a Form-5 application under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, ruling that the authorised officer must independently assess land character before excluding it from the Data Bank. The court directed a fresh enquiry and remanded the matter for compliance with statutory requirements.

The Kerala High Court has ruled that an authorised officer cannot approve or reject a Form-5 application under the Paddy Land Rules by merely accepting a subordinate’s report. The officer must independently review satellite data and conduct a physical inspection as mandated by Rule 4(4f), ensuring procedural integrity in land use decisions. This sets a critical precedent for administrative accountability in environmental land regulation across Kerala.

The Kerala High Court has held that approving any change in paddy land use under the 2008 Rules requires a mandatory satellite imagery report from the Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre. Failure to obtain this report vitiates the order, reinforcing that statutory compliance is non-negotiable and affects farmers, developers, and revenue authorities alike.

High Court of Kerala holds that authorised officers must personally inspect land or obtain satellite imagery under Rule 4(4f) of Kerala Conservation Rules, 2008, to lawfully reject Form-5 applications.