Disposed

News Item Titled Reserve Forest Kee Jungle Ujadkar Kiye Avaidh Kabza Gramino Ke Shikayat Ke Teen Saal Baad Bhi Karyavahi Nahi Mukhaymantri Camp Bagiya Me Jungle Bachane Fir Gramino Ne Kee Fariyaa Appearing in Ground Zero E News Dated 28.07.2024 v. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Raipur

NGT19 Nov 2025Original Application No. 218/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The National Green Tribunal Bench disposed of a suo moto application regarding illegal encroachment and tree cutting in a reserve forest in Chhattisgarh. Accepting the Joint Committee's report on observed encroachment and false forest rights leases, the court directed the cancellation of grants, expedited legal action against violators, and rigorous field verification of claims.

What did the court decide?

Directs cancellation of forest rights leases; speeds up legal action against violators; steps up vigilance; mandates effective claim verification.

News Item Titled Reserve Forest Kee Jungle Ujadkar Kiye… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2025)

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Item No.04

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL CENTRAL ZONE BENCH, BHOPAL (Through Video Conferencing)

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Original Application No.218/2024(CZ) (Earlier O.A. No.1048/2024-PB)

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News Item Titled Reserve Forest Kee Jungle Ujadkar Kiye Avaidh Kabza Gramino Ke Shikayat Ke Teen Saal Baad Bhi Karyavahi Nahi Mukhaymantri Camp Bagiy Me Jungle Bachane Fir Gramino Ne Kee Fariyaad Appearing In Ground Zero E News Dated 28.07.2024

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Vs.

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Ministry of Jal Sahkti & Ors.

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Suo moto

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Date of Hearing: 19.112025

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE DINESH KUMAR SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON'BLE MR. SUDHIR KUMAR CHATURVEDI, EXPERT MEMBER

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For Applicant (s): Mr.

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For Respondent(s) : Mr. Dharamvir Sharma, Adv. for MoEF&CC Ms. Parul Bhadoria, Adv.

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ORDER

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The issue raised in the present application concerns uprooting of the reserve forest and illegal possession thereon which were published in newspaper regarding which Suo Moto action has been taken by the Principal Bench and matter has been transferred to this Bench

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The respondent no 1, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Chhatisgarh does not appeared to be served because no one has appeared from their side today. In the previous order of this tribunal dated 23.09.2025 it is recorded that notices were issued to the

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opposite parties and respondent no. 1/MoEF&CC has filed the reply

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O.A. N. 218/2024(CZ)

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News Item Titled Reserve Forest Kee Jungle Ujadkar Kiye Avaidh Kabza Gramino Ke Shikayat Ke Teen Saal Baad Bhi Karyavahi Nahi Mukhaymantri Camp Bagiya Me Jungle Bachane Fir Gramino Ne Kee Fariyaad Appearing In Ground Zero E News Dated 28.07.2024 Vs Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Raipur & Ors.

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but we find it wrongly mentioned as respondent no. 1, it is the respondent no. 2 i.e the Regional Officer, MoEF&CC, who has appeared and filed reply. Mr. Dharamvir Sharma is recorded in that order to represent Respondent no. 2/MoEF&CC, which is wrongly mentioned, because the Mr. Dharamvir Sharma is appearing to represent the MoEF&CC i.e. respondent no. 2 and not the respondent no. 1. Therefore, the earlier order of this Tribunal dated 19.11.2025 stands corrected to that extent.

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Learned Counsel Ms. Parul Bhadoria has appeared and states that in the said order her name has been wrongly stated to represent the State PCB because she is a counsel for the (CECB), therefore that order will stand corrected to that extent.

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We find that CECB is not a party in the present original application.

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It has been informed that the Joint Committee, which was constituted by this Tribunal vide order dated 01.08.2025 has submitted its report which is annexed at page no. 11 to 16, relevant part of the report is quoted below :

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“ 4. Observation of the Joint Committee :

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The members of joint committee inspected the Forest area (Forest Compartment RF No-982, 984 and the dam (Mitti Bandh) area of Village-Maheshpur) with the above mentioned officials and villagers. The facts of inspection are as follows :-

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During inspection, no illegal occupation was found on Forest Compartment RF No- 982, but encroachment of forest land for cultivation were observed at Forest Compartment RF No-984.

O.A. N. 218/2024(CZ)

Forest officials reported that earlier District Collector Jashpur had constituted joint committee comprising of forest and revenue officials vide letter dated 11.09.2024. Copy of committee attached as Annexure 3. An inspection of Forest Compartment RF No-982 and 984 situated between the boundary of village Maheshpur and village - Jhimki has been done by the Joint Committee formed by the officials of Forest and Revenue on dated 03.10.2024. The report of Joint Committee clearly mentions that "15 farmers who are resident of village Jhimki encroached the land of Forest Compartment RF No- 984 and did tree cutting. By physical verification of land it found that they have the forest rights leases of Forest Compartment RF No982 instead of RF No- 984 where they actually occupied. The Joint Committee also recommended the cancellation of the granted forest rights leases mentioned in the report which is under process" by the order of at present 5-6 persons illegally occupied the above mentioned land without any valid documents and actions is being taken against them regarding it. (Detail Report Attached as Annexure-4).

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Any kind of illegal occupation and tree cutting were not found at the dam (Mitti Bandh) of RF No. 984. The dam (Mitti Bandh) found slightly damaged. Forest and Revenue officials informed that evidence not found against any person regarding the sabotage of dam (Mitti Bandh).

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Indiscriminate cutting of green trees and plants were not found at both site RF No- 982, 984 and dam Mitti Bandh). area during inspections.

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Range Officer, Pathalgaon Range, Forest Department, Jashpur informed that they registered a forest crime case under the provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1965

O.A. N. 218/2024(CZ)

and also seized forest woods with a tractor vehicle from the above mentioned site of encroachment and tree cutting. The legal procedure is going on regarding it. He also informed that forest department regularly supervise the whole forest area according to pre decided forest map for forest area protection and maintenance.

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5. Conclusion:

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On the basis of observation made, Joint Committee submit that-

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At Present, any kind of illegal occupation was not found on Forest Compartment RF No-982 but encroachment of forest land for cultivation by 5-6 persons were observed at Forest Compartment RF No984.

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Any kind of illegal occupation and tree cutting were not found at the dam (Mitti Bandh) of RF No. 984.

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Earlier, 15 farmers who are resident of village Jhimki encroached the land of Forest Compartment RF No - 984 and did tree cutting. By physical verification of land, it found that they have the forest rights leases of Forest Compartment RF No982 instead of RF No- 984 where they actually occupied. The Joint Committee also recommended the cancellation of the granted forest rights leases mentioned in the report which is under process.

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Forest Department also registered a forest crime case and seized forest woods with a tractor vehicle from the above mentioned site of encroachment and tree cutting. The legal procedure against the violators is going on regarding it.

O.A. N. 218/2024(CZ)

Forest Department regularly supervise the forest area according to pre decided plan/map to protect and maintain the forest area.

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6 . Recommendation:

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On the basis of above facts and findings Joint Committee recommend to issue following directions:

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(a) District Level Committee (D.L.C.) should implement the recommendation of the Joint Committee of cancellation of the granted forest rights leases mentioned in the report which is under process.

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(b) Forest department should speed up legal procedure against the violators who involved in encroachment and tree cutting in Forest Compartment RF No984.

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In view of the above, the committee submits the report for further necessary order.”

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It is quite evident from the perusal of the joint committee report that encroachment on forest land for cultivation by 5 to 6 persons was observed in forest, compartment no. 984. Earlier 15 farmers, R/o of Village Jhirki, had encroached the land of Forest Compartment No984 but on physical verification it was found that they had forest rights leases of Forest Compartment RF No- 982 instead of RF No984.

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The Joint Committee accordingly recommended the cancellation of the granted forest rights leases mentioned in the report which is said to

O.A. N. 218/2024(CZ)

be under process. Legal procedure against the violators is said to be going on. It is recommended that forest department should regularly supervise the forest area according to the pre decided plan/map to protect and maintain the forest area.

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In view of above, we find that recommendation sited above by us need to be accepted and are accordingly accepted.

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We dispose of this application with the following directions :

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The district level committee shall implement the recommendation of the joint committee regarding cancellation of the granted forest rights, leases mentioned in the report, which is said to be under process.

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The forest department shall speed up legal procedure against the violators found involved in encroachment of the forest land as well as cutting of trees in forest compartment no. 984.

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The forest department is directed to step up vigil for the forest area so that illegal cutting of the trees is stopped.

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It is further directed that Collectors and DFOs being members of District Level Committee for finalization of FRA claims, put in place an effective, appropriate and just mechanism for verification of claim so that false claims are not approved by the District Level Committee in future in the State.

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DFOs are directed to carry out field verifications of the claims already approved by the District Level Committee and if any other

O.A. N. 218/2024(CZ)

false claim is found to have been sanctioned the same be brought before District Level Committee for reconsideration and rejection as per norms ensuring the conservation of forest & environment of Chhattisgarh State.

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Accordingly, the Original Application No. 218/2024 stands disposed of.

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Dinesh Kumar Singh, JM

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[ Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedil, EM

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19^th November, 2025, O.A. No.218/2024(CZ) K

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O.A. N. 218/2024(CZ)

News Item Titled Reserve Forest Kee Jungle Ujadkar Kiye Avaidh Kabza Gramino Ke Shikayat Ke Teen Saal Baad Bhi Karyavahi Nahi Mukhaymantri Camp Bagiya Me Jungle Bachane Fir Gramino Ne Kee Fariyaa Appearing in Ground Zero E News Dated 28.07.2024 v. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Raipur

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

News Item Titled Reserve Forest Kee Jungle Ujadkar Kiye Avaidh Kabza Gramino Ke Shikayat Ke Teen Saal Baad Bhi Karyavahi Nahi Mukhaymantri Camp Bagiya Me Jungle Bachane Fir Gramino Ne Kee Fariyaa Appearing in Ground Zero E News Dated 28.07.2024 v. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Raipur

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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Issues for consideration

Parties & counsel

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