Use dictionary meaning of ‘forest’, Supreme Court tells Central govt.

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Last Updated21/02/2024

Recently, the SC passed the order on petitions challenging the amendments introduced in 2023 to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

The 1980 statute was enacted to check further deforestation leading to ecological imbalance.
Petitions argued that the amended Act limited 'forest' to declared forests or those recorded as such in government records after 1980.

The Centre, however, denied any attempt to trim the extent of forest coverage.
It referred to the clarification provided in Section 1A, which broadened the definition of "government records".
To encompass lands identified as forests by any State or Union Territory, local governing bodies, councils or acknowledged communities.

The Supreme Court directed that the expression ‘forest’ will continue to have a “broad and all-encompassing” meaning for the time being.
It directed the government to revert to the “dictionary meaning” of ‘forest’ as upheld by it in a 1996 decision in the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad case.
It clarified that 'forest' includes lands not just in official records but as per the dictionary meaning.
It will include 1.97 lakh square km of undeclared forest lands.

The States and Union Territories must compile comprehensive records of forest lands by March 31, adhering to previous court orders.
The dictionary meaning would continue till the States and UTs prepare a “consolidated record” of all the lands recorded as ‘forest’ in government records.

The Bench further directed that the establishment of zoos or safaris will require final approval from the Supreme Court.