New Delhi [India], December 22 : The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Uttarakhand government authorities for sitting as "silent spectators" while large-scale encroachment and illegal grabbing of forest land by private entities took place infront of their eyes.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi initiated a suo motu case over encroachment and illegal grabbing of forest land in Uttarakhand.
The bench directed the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to constitute an Enquiry Committee and submit a report.
The apex court, in an interim order, also restrained private entities from alienating the subject land or creating third-party rights thereon.
No construction shall take place in the subject area, and the forest department shall take possession of all vacant land, other than residential houses, ordered the bench.
"The facts of this case prima facie show as to how thousands of acres of forest land have been systematically grabbed by private individuals. What seems to be shocking to us is that the state of Uttarakhand and its authorities are sitting as silent spectators when the forest land is being systematically grabbed in front of their eyes. Consequently, we propose to enlarge the scope of these proceedings suo motu. Let notice be issued," said the top court.
The matter concerning the unauthorised occupation of protected land in the hill districts came up before the bench when it took suo moto cognisance of the illegal grabbing of forest land.