Jaipur, September 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Bhopal Central Zone Bench, has directed the Rajasthan Forest Department to take possession of 2.9087 hectares of forest land in Beer Papad village of Jaipur tehsil, ruling that the land, recorded in the department’s name, could not be used for non-forest purposes without the requisite approval.
The order was passed on Monday in the case Kamal Kant Tiwari vs. Union of India & Ors. by a bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh, Judicial Member, and Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, Expert Member. The order was uploaded on September 16, 2026, after the hearing concluded and the order was reserved on September 8.
The application concerned allegations that the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Limited (RIICO) had used forest land for the development of an industrial area.
After examining revenue records, departmental survey material and other documents, the Tribunal noted that Khasra No. 7/2, measuring 2.9087 hectares in Beer Papad village, was recorded in the name of the Forest Department. It observed that the material before it indicated that an industrial area had been developed on the land, but no evidence had been produced to establish a valid transfer of the specific land parcel to RIICO.
The NGT held that forest land cannot be diverted for non-forest purposes without prior approval from the Central government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The Tribunal directed Rajasthan Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Arijit Banerjee and Chief Secretary of the Rajasthan Forests and Environment Department Anand Kumar to take possession of the land within 30 days.
Rajasthan Home Department Secretary Bhaskar A. Sawant was instructed to provide the necessary administrative assistance, including force wherever required, to facilitate the transfer of the land to the Forest Department and ensure its subsequent protection.
The Tribunal also directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to fix responsibility and initiate a departmental inquiry against officials posted in the area who allegedly failed to discharge their duties to protect the forest land.
Awarding litigation costs of Rs 50,000 to the applicant, the NGT directed RIICO to pay Rs 30,000 and the Forest Department to pay Rs 20,000 within 30 days of communication of the order.
The Tribunal referred to the statutory provisions governing reserved forests and the requirement for prior Central government approval before forest land can be diverted for non-forest purposes. It also considered principles laid down by the Supreme Court in several cases, including T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs. Union of India.
Emphasising the importance of safeguarding forest resources, the NGT invoked the Public Trust Doctrine, under which the state holds natural resources, including forests, in trust for the benefit of the public and future generations.
With these observations and directions, the Tribunal disposed of the original application along with any pending interlocutory applications.
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