Disposed

News Item Titled T N Forest Minister Mathiventhan Criticised for Staying at Partially Closed Illegal Resort in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Appearing in the Hindu Dated 27 05 2024 v. Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change through Its Regional Office Deputy Director General of Forests

NGT9 Jul 2026Original Application No. 249/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The National Green Tribunal Southern Zone disposed of a suo motu application regarding a news report of a Forest Minister staying at an illegal resort in Mudumalai. Finding related demolition notices sub judice before the Madras High Court, the Tribunal directed authorities to maintain seals on unauthorized structures and prevent illegal activity in the elephant corridor.

What did the court decide?

Directions to maintain seals on unauthorized structures, prohibit fresh construction in the corridor, maintain surveillance, and prevent unnatural elephant deaths.

News Item Titled T N Forest Minister Mathiventhan… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2026)

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Item No.02:-

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI

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Thursday, the 9^th day of July, 2026.

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[Through Physical Hearing (Hybrid Option)]

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Original Application No.249 of 2024 (SZ)

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[Earlier O.A. No.733 of 2024(PB)]

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IN THE MATTER OF:

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Suo Motu matter in respect of news item appearing in „The Hindu” dated 27.05.2024 titled “T.N. Forest Minister Mathiventhan criticized for staying at partially-closed

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„illegal resort‟ in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve” .

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And

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1. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,

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Through Regional Office Deputy Director General of Forests (C), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Integrated Regional Office, 1^st Floor, Additional Office Block for GPOA, Shastri Bhawan, Haddows Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600006.

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2. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Head of Department), Forest Headquarters building, Near Kannikapuram check post, Guindy-Velachery main road, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032.

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3. District Magistrate, Nilgiris District

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Nilgiris District, 171, Church Hill Rd, Near Charing Cross,

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Pudumund, Ooty, Tamil Nadu – 643 001.

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…Respondents

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Page 1 of 8

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For Applicant(s): Suo Motu. For Respondent(s): Mrs. Y. Kavitha for R1. Mr. J. Vinoth a/w. Mr. U. Gokulakrishnan for R2 & R3.

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Judgment Reserved: 30^th June, 2026.

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CORAM :

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HON’BLE Smt. JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE Dr. PRASHANT GARGAVA, EXPERT MEMBER

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J U D G M E N T

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Delivered by Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member

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1. This Original Application was registered Suo Motu on the basis of the news item in The Hindu titled “T.N Forest Minister Mathiventhan criticised for staying at partiallyclosed „illegal resort‟ in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve” dated 27.05.2024. The matter highlights the inaction of the Nilgiris District administration to demolish 12 resorts against the order passed by the Supreme Court-appointed „Sagar Plateau Elephant Corridor Inquiry Committee in 2023‟ vide order dated 14.10.2020 in Hospitality Association of Mudumalai vs. In defense of the environment and animals & Ors. As per the news report, no action has been taken to demolish the building along the elephant corridor and during the vacation to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, the Tamil Nadu State Forest Minister resides at a resort situated along the notified elephant corridor. The matter was transferred to the Southern Zone and renumbered as O.A. No.249 of 2024(SZ).

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2. Upon notice, the 1^st Respondent/MoEF&CC submitted their report dated 25.04.2025 that the issues raised in the present application are sub judice before the High Court of Madras in W.P. No. 23528 of 2024 ( M/s. Rolling Stones Resort v. The Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor Inquiry

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Page 2 of 8

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Committee ), concerning the demolition of resorts and buildings constructed within the notified Elephant Corridor.

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3. The Ministry, in coordination with the State Forest Departments, has ground-validated 150 elephant corridors across 15 elephant range States , including Tamil Nadu, and has issued directions to the State Governments and Union Territories to undertake necessary measures for their protection and conservation.

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4. On the order dated 09.08.2018 passed by the Supreme Court of India in W.P. (C) No. 897 of 1996 ( A. Rangarajan & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors. ), whereby the Collector, Nilgiris, was directed to close and seal 39 resort complexes situated within the Elephant Corridor, subject to verification of valid title and possession for running the resort and non-resort dwellers who are identified by the Collector‟s report to be occupying land in the corridor area was granted 2 months to produce documents for verification.

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5. Aggrieved by the above order dated 09.08.2018 of the Hon‟ble Supreme Court of India, a Civil appeal Nos. 3438– 3439 of 2020 was filed by ( Hospitality Association of Mudumalai v. In Defence of Environment and Animals & Ors. ), the Hon'ble Supreme Court reiterated the paramount importance of preserving elephant corridors. Pursuant thereto, the Ministry issued communications dated 20.04.2023 and 22.08.2023 to all Elephant Range States and Union Territories directing them to ensure effective protection of elephant corridors, prevent obstructions such as fences, trenches and barriers, and prohibit practices that impede the free movement of elephants.

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6. Respondent No. 1 contends that matters relating to land administration, determination of forest boundaries, maintenance of land records, and notification and protection of protected areas fall primarily within the jurisdiction and responsibility of the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The State Government is competent to determine the legal status of land

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Page 3 of 8

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with reference to statutory notifications, applicable laws and judicial directions.

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7. The report places reliance on Sections 29, 33 and 34A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to contend that destruction or diversion of wildlife habitat, unauthorized activities within sanctuaries, and occupation of Government land are prohibited except in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Chief Wildlife Warden is the statutory authority entrusted with the control, management and protection of wildlife sanctuaries, while officers not below the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forests are empowered to evict unauthorized occupants and remove illegal structures from sanctuaries and national parks, after following the prescribed procedure.

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8. Any diversion of forest land requires the prior approval of the Central Government under Section 2 of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and any non-forest use without such approval is impermissible. If any unauthorized construction or illegal encroachment occurs within protected areas, the State Government under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 are vested with the powers to initiate appropriate legal action against the violators.

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9. The 3^rd respondent District Collector, Nilgiris submitted their report dated 05.01.2026 stating that pursuant to the order dated 08.07.2024, the Tahsildar, Udhagamandalam conducted an inquiry and submitted a report dated 21.10.2024.

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10. According to that report, the lands in Survey Nos. 149/1A5, 149/2, 150, 151 and 178/1 of Sholur Revenue Village are ryotwari patta lands situated at Bokkapuram area, Udhagai Taluk. The resort “M/s Jungle Hut”, is owned by one Mr. Vikram Mathias. The resort consists of nine buildings, of which six possess the requisite proper approvals. The remaining three buildings had been locked and sealed by the District Collector in 2018 for operating without the commercial approvals and continue to remain sealed and unused.

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11. During inquiry it was revealed that the rooms allotted to Mr. R. Mayavan during the period from 25.05.2024 to 29.05.2024 were Door Nos. 4/43A1 and 4/43B, which are commercially approved buildings. No accommodation was provided in any of the sealed buildings. The room bills disclosed that there was no unauthorized occupation or illegal stay in the sealed premises.

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12. The District Administration has also stated that there is no official record indicating any official visit of the Minister during the period and that it had no knowledge of his personal visit.

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13. In compliance with the directions of the Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor Inquiry Committee constituted pursuant to the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, a demolition notice dated 16.08.2024 was issued directing the owner of Jungle Hut Resort to demolish the sealed structures situated within the notified Elephant Corridor. Electricity and water supply to the sealed buildings were also disconnected. Challenging the aforesaid demolition notice, the owner of Jungle Hut Resort instituted W.P. No. 23536 of 2024 before the Hon'ble High Court of Madras(order copy not enclosed). Similar writ petitions have also been filed by other resort owners whose properties are situated within the Elephant Corridor, and the batch of matters is presently pending before the Special Bench of the Hon'ble High Court, as per the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Miscellaneous Application Nos. 2108–2109 of 2024 dated 20.12.2024.

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14. The Respondent further relies upon the report dated 23.04.2025 of the Executive Officer, Sholur Town Panchayat, wherein it has been certified that Door Nos. 4/43A1 and 4/43B possess valid commercial approvals and that the septic tanks and wastewater disposal system of the resort have been properly constructed and are being adequately maintained.

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15. From the pleadings placed before this Tribunal, it emerges that the controversy regarding demolition of resorts

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situated within the notified Elephant Corridor is presently pending before the Special Bench of the Hon'ble High Court of Madras in a batch of writ petitions. Therefore, this Tribunal refrains from expressing any opinion on the legality of the demolition notices or the validity of the constructions, lest it prejudice the proceedings is still pending.

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16. The report of the District Collector discloses that, as M/s. Jungle Hut Resort is concerned, out of nine buildings, six possess the requisite statutory approvals, whereas three buildings were sealed by the District Administration in the year 2018 and continue to remain sealed. The inquiry further reveals that the occupants (then Minister) referred to in the news report were accommodated only in the approved buildings and not in the sealed structures. The District Administration has also stated that there is no official record of any official visit of the then Forest Minister during the relevant period.

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17. The demolition notices have already been issued pursuant to the directions of the Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor Inquiry Committee, and the implementation thereof has been kept in abeyance on account of the pendency of the writ petitions before the Hon'ble High Court. Therefore, the grievance regarding non-demolition cannot be independently adjudicated by this Tribunal at this stage.

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18. Nevertheless, this Tribunal cannot lose sight of the ecological significance of the Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor, which forms part of the Nilgiris landscape and provides vital connectivity between the forests of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Elephant corridors are indispensable for seasonal migration, access to food and water, and long-term survival of elephant populations. Fragmentation of such corridors by unauthorized constructions, barriers and commercial establishments inevitably escalates human-elephant conflict and undermines wildlife conservation.

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19. Accordingly, while refraining from examining issues which are sub judice before the Hon'ble High Court of Madras, this Tribunal issues the following directions:

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I. The District Collector, Nilgiris, and the Forest Department shall continue to ensure that all buildings which have been sealed pursuant to the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor Inquiry Committee remain sealed and are not put to any commercial or residential use until further orders directed by the required forum.

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II. The respondents shall ensure that no fresh construction, expansion, alteration or commercial activity is permitted within the notified Elephant Corridor in violation of the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the applicable forest and environmental laws, or the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

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III. The State authorities shall maintain strict surveillance over the notified Elephant Corridor and remove any physical obstruction, including illegal fencing, barriers or other impediments, which may obstruct the free movement of elephants, in accordance with law.

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IV. The Forest Department shall take measures to prevent unnatural elephant deaths arising from electrocution, illegal electric fencing and other anthropogenic causes by conducting periodic inspections of vulnerable areas, particularly along identified elephant corridors.

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V. The respondents shall abide by the outcome of the proceedings pending before the Special Bench constituted by the Hon'ble High Court of Madras and implement the final directions issued therein without delay.

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Page 7 of 8

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20. With the above observations and directions, the Original Application [O.A. No.249 of 2024(SZ)] stands disposed of.

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Sd/Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM

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Sd/Dr. Prashant Gargava, EM

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Internet – Yes/No

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All India NGT Reporter – Yes/No