Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 – s.3(2) – Directions by the Supreme Court in the judgment and order dated 22nd May 2025 as regards Zudpi Jungle Lands – Modifications sought by State of Maharashtra:
Held: With respect to the direction in para 138(vii) of the judgment and order dated 22nd May 2025, all such fragmented land parcels shall be declared as protected forest – If the State desires to use the said land for any of the purposes mentioned u/s.3(2), the same can be done only after following the procedure prescribed therein and subject to fulfillment of the conditions specified therein – As regards the prayer clause (i)(b), a perusal of the main judgment would reveal that one of the main reasons why there was inclination to grant a one-time exemption was that over the years and on account of apathy of revenue officials, the necessary revenue entries could not be made – For a long period of time, the land under consideration has been used for the purpose of agriculture, kuccha houses, pakka houses, slums, Govt. employees colonies, Govt. or Z.P. Schools, private schools and other public utilities – Central Empowered Committee in its report itself had recommended the protection of such structures to the extent of 10,365.049 hectares – Thus, the said prayer is allowed, and a necessary paragraph is added in the Judgment and order dated 22nd May 2025. [Paras 5-9]
As published in the Supreme Court Reports, Supreme Court of India. Headnotes prepared by: Nidhi Jain. Text from the Indian Supreme Court Judgments open data set (Dattam Labs), CC BY 4.0.
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