A bench consisting of Justices BR Gavai and K Vinod Chandran rendered the decision.
The judge stated, “We will not permit anything which leads to reduction of forest area.”
It prohibited the Center and the states from taking any action that might result in a reduction of forest areas pending additional directives.
SC administering in the midst of difficulties to Woods Preservation Act corrections
The High Court’s choice comes in the midst of legitimate moves against the 2023 corrections to the Woodland Preservation Act (FCA).
The solicitors asserted that the adjustment of the law would “drastically sabotage India’s many years old timberland administration system,” and furthermore go against the High Court’s decision by limiting the meaning of woods land that sounds included.
Dubious changes
New standards permit clearing trees for compensatory afforestation
Senior Supporter Gopal Sankaranarayanan additionally raised worries over new standards permitting trees on timberland terrains to be cleared for compensatory afforestation.
The court has now decided that any utilization of woods land for pressing necessities should be repaid with elective land for reforestation.
Extra Specialist General Aishwarya Bhati, addressing the Middle, said she would document a reaction in something like three weeks and further hearings have been planned for Walk 4.
Rule exceptions
SC tends to worries over new standards giving exceptions
Sankaranarayanan raised three disputes: (I) trees on woods lands are being gathered to surrender land for compensatory afforestation (ii) ex post facto endorsement isn’t passable (iii) straight tasks have been allowed finished exception under the FCA, which isn’t reasonable.
Accordingly, Equity Gavai inquired as to whether woods land was being used for compensatory afforestation without legitimate ID of backwoods.
The court repeated that any proposition including backwoods lands, similar to zoos or safaris, needs its endorsement.
Consistence issues
SC guided states to recognize and report woods lands
In February 2024, the High Court guided states and Association Regions to recognize and report woods lands according to a 1996 judgment.
Nonetheless, consistence has been conflicting for certain states not getting done with the responsibility.
The Service of Climate, Backwoods and Environmental Change was coordinated to digitize and distribute these records by April 2024 however is yet to do as such.