{"id":242598,"date":"1996-12-12T00:00:00","date_gmt":"1996-12-11T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/t-n-godavarman-thirumulkpad-vs-union-of-india-ors-on-12-december-1996"},"modified":"2015-12-21T19:20:52","modified_gmt":"2015-12-21T13:50:52","slug":"t-n-godavarman-thirumulkpad-vs-union-of-india-ors-on-12-december-1996","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/t-n-godavarman-thirumulkpad-vs-union-of-india-ors-on-12-december-1996","title":{"rendered":"T.N. Godavarman Thirumulkpad vs Union Of India & Ors on 12 December, 1996"},"content":{"rendered":"
Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n
T.N. Godavarman Thirumulkpad vs Union Of India & Ors on 12 December, 1996<\/div>\n
Bench: J.S. Verma, B.N. Kirpal<\/div>\n
           PETITIONER:\nT.N. GODAVARMAN THIRUMULKPAD\n\n\tVs.\n\nRESPONDENT:\nUNION OF INDIA & ORS.\n\nDATE OF JUDGMENT:\t12\/12\/1996\n\nBENCH:\nJ.S. VERMA, B.N. KIRPAL\n\n\n\n\nACT:\n\n\n\nHEADNOTE:\n\n\n\nJUDGMENT:\n<\/pre>\n
\t       (With W.P.(Civil) No. 171\/96)
\n\t\t\t O R D E R
\n     In\t view  of  the\tgreat  significance  of\t the  points
\ninvolved in  these matters,  relating to  the protection and
\nconservation of\t the forests  throughout the country, it was
\nconsidered necessary  that the Central Government as well as
\nthe Governments\t of all\t the States  are heard. Accordingly,
\nnotice w as issued to all of them. We have heard the learned
\nAttorney General  for the  Union of  India, learned  counsel
\nappearing for  the States and the parties\/applicants and, in
\naddition,  the\tlearned\t Amicus\t Curiae,  Shri\tH.N.  Salve,
\nassisted by  Sarvashri U.  U. Lalit,  Mahender Das  and P.K.
\nManohar. After\thearing all  the learned  counsel, who\thave
\nrendered very  able assistance\tto the court, we have formed
\nthe opinion  that the  matters\trequire\t a  further  indepth
\nhearing to  examine all the aspects relating to the National
\nForest\tPolicy.\t For  this  purpose,  several  points  which
\nemerged during\tthe course  of the  hearing require  further
\nstudy by  the learned  counsel and,  therefore, we defer the
\ncontinuation of\t this hearing  for some\t time to  enable the
\nlearned counsel to further study these points.\n<\/p>\n
     However, we  are of  the opinion  that certain  interim
\ndirections are\tnecessary at  this stage  in respect of some
\naspects. We  have heard the learned Attorney General and the
\nother learned counsel on these aspects.\n<\/p>\n
     It\t has  emerged  at  the\thearing,  that\tthere  is  a
\nmisconception in  certain quarters  about the  true scope of
\nthe Forest  Conservation Act, 1980 (for short the `Act’) and
\nthe meaning of the word “forest” used therein. There is also
\na resulting  misconception about  the need of prior approval
\nof the\tCentral Government,  as required by Section 2 of the
\nAct, in\t respect of  certain activities\t in the\t forest area
\nwhich are more often of a commercial nature. It is necessary
\nto clarify that position.\n<\/p>\n
     The Forest\t Conservation Act,  1980 was  enacted with a
\nview to check further deforestation which ultimately results
\nin ecological  imbalance; and therefore, the provisions made
\ntherein for  the conservation  of forests  and fore  matters
\nconnected therewith,  must apply to all forests irrespective
\nof the\tnature of  ownership or\t classification thereof. The
\nword “forest: must be understood according to its dictionary
\nmeaning. This  description cover  all statutorily recognised
\nforests,  whether   designated\tas  reserved,  protected  or
\notherwise for  the purpose  of Section\t2(i) of\t the  Forest
\nConservation Act.  The\tterm  “forest  land”,  occurring  in
\nSection 2,  will not  only include “forest” as understood in
\nthe dictionary\tsense, but  also any area recorded as forest
\nin the Government record irrespective of the ownership. This
\nis how\tit has to be understood for the purpose of Section 2
\nof  the\t  Act.\tThe   provisions  enacted   in\tthe   Forest
\nConservation Act,  1980 for  the conservation of forests and
\nthe matters  connected therewith  must apply  clearly to all
\nforests so  understood\tirrespective  of  the  ownership  or
\nclassification thereof. This aspect has been made abundantly
\nclear in  the decisions of this Court in Ambica Quarry Works
\nand ors.  versus State\tof Gujarat  and ors.  (1987 (1)\t SCC\n<\/p>\n
213), Rura’  Litigation and  Entitlement Kendra versus State
\nof U.P. (1989 Suppl. (1) SCC 504), and recently in the order
\ndated 29th  November, 1996  in\tW.P.(C)\t No.749\/95  (Supreme
\nCourt Monitoring Committee vs. Mussorie Dehradun Development
\nAuthority and  ors.). The  earlier decision of this Court in
\nState of  Bihar Vs.  BanshiRam Modi  and ors.  (1985 (3) SCC\n<\/p>\n
643) has,  therefore, to be understood in the light of these
\nsubsequent decisions.  We consider it necessary to reiterate
\nthis settled  position emerging\t from the  decisions of this
\ncourt to  dispel the doubt, if any, in the perception of any
\nState Government  or authority.\t This has  become  necessary
\nalso because  of the  stand taken  on behalf of the State of
\nRajasthan, even\t at this late stage, relating to permissions
\ngranted for mining in such area which is clearly contrary to
\nthe decisions of this court. It is reasonable to assume that
\nany State  Government which  has failed\t to  appreciate\t the
\ncorrect position  in law  so far, will forthwith correct its
\nstance and  take the necessary remedial measures without any
\nfurther delay.\n<\/p>\n
We further direct as under:-\n<\/p>\n
I.   General:\n<\/p>\n
1.   In view of the meaning of the word “forest” in the Act,
\nit is  obvious that prior approval of the Central Government
\nis required  for any  non-forest activity within the area of
\nany “forest”.  In accordance  with Section 2 of the Act, all
\non-going activity  within any forest in any State throughout
\nthe country,  without the  prior  approval  of\tthe  Central
\nGovernment, must  cease forthwith.  It is,  therefore, clear
\nthat the  running of  saw mills of any kind including veneer
\nor ply-wood  mills, and mining of any mineral are non-forest
\npurposes and  are, therefore,  not permissible without prior
\napproval of  the Central  Government. Accordingly,  any such
\nactivity is  prima facie  violation of the provisions of the
\nForest Conservation  Act, 1980.\t Every State Government must
\npromptly ensure\t total\tcessation  of  all  such  activities
\nforthwith.\n<\/p>\n
2.   In addition  to the  above, in  the tropical  wet ever-
\ngreen forests  of  Tirap  and  Changlang  in  the  State  of
\nArunachal Pradesh,  there would be a complete ban on felling
\nof any\tkind of\t trees therein\tbecause of  their particular
\nsignificance  to   maintain  ecological\t balance  needed  to
\npreserve bio-diversity. All saw mills, veneer mills and ply-
\nwood mills  in Tirap  and Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh and
\nwithin a  distance of  100 Kms.\t from its  border, in Assam,
\nshould also  be closed immediately. The State Governments of
\nArunachal Pradesh  and Assam  must ensure compliance of this
\ndirection.\n<\/p>\n
3.   The felling  of trees  in\tall  forests  is  to  remain
\nsuspended except in accordance with the Working Plans of the
\nState Governments, as approved by the Central Government. In
\nthe absence  of any  Working Plan  in any  particular State,
\nsuch as\t Arunachal Pradesh,  where the permit system exists,
\nthe felling under the permits can be done only by the Forest
\nDepartment of  the State  Government  or  the  State  Forest
\nCorporation.\n<\/p>\n
4.   There shall  be a\tcomplete ban  on the movement of cut
\ntrees and  timber from any of the seven North-Eastern States
\nto any\tother State  of the  country either by rail, road or
\nwater-ways. The\t Indian Railways  and the  State Governments
\nare directed to take all measures necessary to ensure strict
\ncompliance of this direction. This ban will not apply to the
\nmovement of  certified timber  required for defence or other
\nGovernment purpose. This ban will also not affect felling in
\nany private  plantation comprising  of trees  planted in any
\nare which is not a forest.\n<\/p>\n
5.   Each State\t Government  should  constitute\t within\t one
\nmonth an Expert Committee to:\n<\/p>\n
     (i)  Identify   areas   which   are
\n     “forests”, irrespective  of whether
\n     they are so notified, recognised or
\n     classified\t under\t any  law,   and
\n     irrespective of  the  ownership  of
\n     the land of such forest;<\/p>\n
     (ii) identify  areas   which   were
\n     earlier forests but stand degraded,
\n     denuded or cleared; and\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     (iii)     identify areas covered by
\n     plantation trees  belonging to  the
\n     Government and  those belonging  to
\n     private persons.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
6.   Each State\t Government should within two months, file a
\nreport regarding:-\n<\/p>\n
     (i)  the  number\tof  saw\t  mills,
\n     veneer and\t plywood mills\tactually
\n     operating within  the  State,  with
\n     particulars    of\t   their    real
\n     ownership;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     (ii) the\tlicensed    and\t  actual\n     capacity of  these mills  for stock\n     and sawing;\n     (iii)     their  proximity\t to  the\n     nearest forest;\n     (iv) their source of timber.\n<\/pre>\n
7.   Each State\t Government  should  constitute\t within\t one
\nmonth, an Expert Committee to assess :\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     (i)  the  sustainable  capacity  of
\n     the forests  of the  State qua  saw
\n     mills and timber based industry;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     (ii) the  number  of  existing  saw
\n     mills which can safely be sustained
\n     in the State;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     (iii)     the optimum distance from
\n     the  forest,  qua\tthat  State,  at
\n     which  the\t  saw  mill   should  be
\n     located.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n
8.   The  Expert   Committees  so   constituted\t should\t  be
\nrequested to  give its\treport within  one  month  of  being
\nconstituted.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
9.   Each State\t Government  would  constitute\ta  Committee
\ncomprising of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and
\nanother Senior\tOfficer to  oversee the\t compliance of\tthis
\norder and file status reports.\n<\/p>\n
II.  FOR THE STATE OF JAMMU & KASHMIR:\n<\/p>\n
1.   There will\t be no\tfelling of  trees permitted  in\t any
\n“forest”, public  or  private.\tThis  ban  will\t not  affect
\nfelling in  any\t private  plantations  comprising  of  trees
\nplanted by private persons or the Social Forestry Department
\nof the\tState of  Jammu &  Kashmir and\tin such plantations,
\nfelling will be strictly in accordance with law.\n<\/p>\n
2.   In\t `forests’,   the  State   Government\tmay   either
\ndepartmentally\tor  through  the  State\t Forest\t Corporation
\nremove fallen  trees or\t fell and  remove  diseased  or\t dry
\nstanding timber,  and that  only from areas other than those
\nnotified under the Jammu & Kashmir Wild Life Protection Act,
\n1978 or\t any other  law banning\t such felling  or removal of
\ntrees.\n<\/p>\n
3.   For this  purpose, the State Government will constitute
\nan Expert  Committee comprising of a representative being an
\nIFS Officer  posted in\tthe State  of  Jammu  &\t Kashmir,  a
\nrepresentative of  the State  Government,  and\ttwo  private
\nexperts of  eminence and  the Managing Director of the State
\nForest Corporation  (as Member\tSecretary) who\twill fix the
\nqualitative and quantitative norms for the felling of fallen
\ntrees, diseased\t and dry  standing trees.  The\tState  shall
\nensure that  the trees\tso felled  and\tremoved\t by  it\t are
\nstrictly in accordance with these norms.\n<\/p>\n
4.   Any felling  of trees  in forest  or otherwise  or\t any
\nclearance of  land for\texecution of  projects, shall  be in
\nstrict\tcompliance   with  the\t Jammu\t&   Kashmir   Forest
\nConservation Act,  1990 and any other laws applying thereto.
\nHowever, any trees so felled, and the disposal of such trees
\nshall be  done exclusively  by the  State Forest Corporation
\nand no\tprivate agency\twill be\t permitted to deal with this
\naspect. This  direction will  also cover the submerged areas
\nof the THEIN Dam.\n<\/p>\n
5.   All timber\t obtained, as  aforesaid or otherwise, shall
\nbe utilised  within the State, preferably to meet the timber
\nand  fuel   wood  requirements\tof  the\t local\tpeople,\t the
\nGovernment and other local institutions.\n<\/p>\n
6.   The movement  of trees  or timber\t(sawn or  otherwise)
\nfrom the  State shall,\tfor the\t present,  stand  suspended,
\nexcept for  the use  of DGS  & D,  Railways and Defence. Any
\nsuch movement for such use will –\n<\/p>\n
     a)\t  be\teffected    after    due
\n     certification,\tconsignment-wise
\n     made by  the Managing  Director  of
\n     the State\tCorporation  which  will
\n     include  certification   that   the
\n     timber has\t come from  State Forest
\n     Corporation sources; and\n<\/p>\n
     b)\t be  undertaken\t by  either  the
\n     Corporation  itself,  the\tJammu  &
\n     Kashmir Forest  Department\t or  the
\n     receiving agency.\n<\/p>\n
7.   The State\tof Jammu  & Kashmir  will  file,  preferably
\nwithin one month from today, a detailed affidavit specifying
\nthe quantity  of timber\t held by  private persons  purchased
\nfrom State  Forest Corporation\tDepots for transport outside
\nthe State  (other than\tfor consumption\t by  the  DGS  &  D,
\nRailways and Defence). Further directions in this regard may
\nbe considered after the affidavit is filed.\n<\/p>\n
8.   No saw  mill, veneer or plywood mill would be permitted
\nto operate  in this  State at a distance of less than 8 Kms.
\nfrom the  boundary  of\tany  demarcated\t forest\t areas.\t Any
\nexisting mill  falling in  this\t belt  should  be  relocated
\nforthwith.\n<\/p>\n
III. FOR THE  STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AND THE HILL REGIONS
\nOF THE STATES OF UTTAR PRADESH AND WEST BENGAL:\n<\/p>\n
1.   There will\t be no\tfelling of  trees permitted  in\t any
\nforest, public\tor private. This ban will not affect felling
\nin any private plantation comprising of trees planted in any
\narea which  is not  a  `forest’;  and  which  has  not\tbeen
\nconverted from\tan earlier “forest”. This ban will not apply
\nto permits  granted to\tthe right holders for their bonafide
\npersonal use in Himachal Pradesh.\n<\/p>\n
2.  In\t a  `forest’,\tthe  State   Government\t may  either
\ndepartmentally\tor  through  the  State\t Forest\t Corporation
\nremove fallen  trees or\t fell and  remove  diseased  or\t dry
\nstanding timber\t from areas  other than those notified under
\nSection 18  or Section\t35 of  the Wild Life Protection Act,
\n1972 or\t any other  Act banning\t such felling  or removal of
\ntrees.\n<\/p>\n
3.   For this purpose, the State Government is to constitute
\nan expert Committee comprising a representative from MOEF, a
\nrepresentative of  the State Government, two private experts
\nof eminence  and the  MD of the State Forest Corporation (as
\nMember\tSecretary),   who  will\t  fix  the  qualitative\t and
\nquantitative norms  for the  felling  of  fallen  trees\t and
\ndiseased and  standing timber.\tThe State  shall ensure that
\nthe trees so felled and removed are in accordance with these
\nnorms.\n<\/p>\n
4.   Felling of\t trees in  any forest  or any  clearance  of
\nforest land  in execution  of projects\tshall be  in  strict
\nconformity with\t the Forest  Conservation Act,\t1980 and any
\nother laws  applying thereto. Moreover, any trees so felled,
\nand the\t disposal of such trees shall be done exclusively by
\nthe State  Forest Corporation and no private agency is to be
\ninvolved in any aspect thereof.\n<\/p>\n
IV.  FOR THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU:\n<\/p>\n
1.   There will be a complete ban on felling of trees in all
\nforest areas’. This will however not apply to:-\n<\/p>\n
     (a) trees\twhich have  been planted
\n     and   grown,   and\t  are\tnot   of
\n     spontaneous growth, and\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     (b) are  in areas\twhich  were  not
\n     forests earlier,  but were\t cleared
\n     for any reason.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
2.   The State\tGovernment, within four weeks from today, is
\nto constitute a committee for identifying all “forests”.\n<\/p>\n
3.   Those tribals  who are  part  of  the  social  forestry
\nprogramme in respect of patta lands, other than forests, may
\ncontinue to  grow and cut according to the Government Scheme
\nprovided that they grow and cut trees in accordance with the
\nlaw applicable.\n<\/p>\n
4.   In so  f ar  as the  plantations (tea, coffee, cardamom
\netc.) are concerned, it is directed as under:\n<\/p>\n
     a)\t  The felling  of shade\t trees in  these plantations
\n\t  will be –\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     i) limited to trees which have been
\n     planted, and  not those  which have
\n     grown spontaneously;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     ii)   limited    to   the\t species
\n     identified in the TANTEA report;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     iii)   in\t accordance   with   the
\n     recommendations  of  (including  to
\n     the extent\t recommended by) TANTEA;
\n     and\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
     iv) under\tthe supervision\t of  the
\n     statutory committee  constituted by
\n     the State Government.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
b)   In so  far as the fuel trees planted by the plantations
\nfor fuel  wood outside\tthe forest  area are  concerned, the
\nState Government  is directed to obtain within four weeks, a
\nreport from  TANTEA as\twas done in the case of Shade trees,
\nand the\t further action for felling them will be as per that
\nreport. Meanwhile,  eucalyptus and wattle trees in such area
\nmay be\tfelled by them for their own use as permitted by the
\nstatutory committee.\n<\/p>\n
c)  the\t State\tGovernment  is\tdirected  to  ascertain\t and
\nidentify those\tareas of the plantation which are a “forest”
\nand are not in active use as a plantation. No felling of any
\ntrees is  however to  be permitted  in these areas, and sub-
\nparas (b) and (c) above will not apply to such areas.\n<\/p>\n
d)   There will\t be no\tfurther expansion of the plantations
\nin a  manner so\t as to\tinvolve encroachment upon (by way of
\nclearing or otherwise) of “forests”.\n<\/p>\n
5.   As far  as the  trees already cut, prior to the interim
\norder of  this court  dated December 11, 1995 are concerned,
\nthe same  may be  permitted to be removed provided they were
\nnot so\tfelled from  Janmam land. The State Government would
\nverify these  trees and\t mark them  suitably to\t ensure that
\nthis order  is duly  complied with. For the present, this is
\nbeing permitted as a one time measure.\n<\/p>\n
6.   Insofar as\t felling of  any trees\tin Janmam  lands  is
\nconcerned (whether in plantations ore otherwise), the ban on
\nfelling will  operate subject to any order made in the Civil
\nAppeal Nos. 367 to 375 of 1977 in C.A. Nos. 1344-45 of 1976.
\nAfter the  order is made in those Civil Appeals on the I.As.
\npending therein,  if  necessary,  this\taspect\tmay  be\t re-
\nexamined.\n<\/p>\n
7.  This   order  is  to  operate  and\tto  be\timplemented,
\nnotwithstanding any  order at variance, made or which may be
\nmade by\t any Government or any authority, tribunal or court,
\nincluding the High Court.\n<\/p>\n
     The earlier orders made in these matters shall be read,
\nmodified wherever necessary to this extent. This order is to
\ncontinue, until\t further orders. This order will operate and
\nbe complied with by all concerned, notwithstanding any order
\nat variance,  made or  which my\t be made  hereafter, by\t any
\nauthority, including  the Central or any State Government or
\nany court (including High Court) or Tribunal.\n<\/p>\n
     We also  direct that notwithstanding the closure of any
\nsaw mills  or other  wood-based industry  pursuant  to\tthis
\norder, the  workers employed  in such units will continue to
\nbe  paid   their  full\temoluments  due\t and  shall  not  be
\nretrenched or removed from service for this reason.\n<\/p>\n
     We are  informed that the Railway authorities are still
\nusing wooden  sleepers for  laying tracks.  The Ministry  of
\nRailways will  file an\taffidavit giving full particulars in
\nthis regard  including the  extent of wood consumed by them,
\nthe source of supply of wood, and the steps taken by them to
\nfind alternatives to the use of wood.\n<\/p>\n
     I.A. Nos.\t7,9,10,11,12,13\t and  14  in  Writ  Petition
\n(Civil) No.  202 of 1995 and I.A. Nos. 1,3,4,5,6,7,8 & 10 in
\nWrit Petition  (Civil) No.  171 of  1996  are  disposed\t of,
\naccordingly.\n<\/p>\n
     List the  matter on February 25, 1997 as part-heard for
\nfurther hearing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Supreme Court of India T.N. Godavarman Thirumulkpad vs Union Of India & Ors on 12 December, 1996 Bench: J.S. Verma, B.N. Kirpal PETITIONER: T.N. GODAVARMAN THIRUMULKPAD Vs. RESPONDENT: UNION OF INDIA & ORS. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12\/12\/1996 BENCH: J.S. VERMA, B.N. KIRPAL ACT: HEADNOTE: JUDGMENT: (With W.P.(Civil) No. 171\/96) O R D E R In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-242598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"\nT.N. 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