Supreme Court Slams Uttarakhand Authorities For Being Silent Spectators To Forest Land Grabbing; Says Thousands Of Acres Lost

The Supreme Court today berated Uttarakhand state authorities for sitting as "silent spectators" while largescale grabbing of forest land by private entities took place infront of their eyes.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter and enlarged the scope thereof to pursue as a suo motu case. It directed the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to constitute an Enquiry Committee and submit a report.

In the interim, the Court further restrained private entities from alienating the subject land or creating third-party rights thereon. It also ordered that no construction shall take place in the subject area and the Forest Department shall take possession of all vacant land (except residential houses).

"The facts of this case prima facie show as to how thousands of acres of forest land has 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" noted the bench.

The directions to the state authorities were dictated as follows,

"The Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests are directed to constitute an Enquiry Committee to examine all facts and a submit a report to this Court. Meanwhile, all private individuals are restrained from alienating the land, encumbering or creating any third party rights. No construction activity shall be allowed to take place. The vacant land, other than residential houses, shall be taken into possession by the Forest Department and concerned Collector."

The matter pertained to land measuring 2866 acres which was notified as government forest land. A part of this land was allegedly leased out to Pashu Lok Seva Samiti - a society of Rishikesh.

The society claimed that it further allotted parcels of the land to its members. Then there arose some alleged dispute between the society and its members which led to passing of compromise - "rather collusive" - decree.

Later, the society came under liquidation and vide a deed of surrender, it surrendered 594 acres of land to the Forest Department on 23.10.1984. That order of surrendering land, or re-vesting of the forest land, to the government attained finality. Yet, some private individuals, like the petitioner, claimed to have taken possession of the land in 2001.

Being of the view that there was largescale land grabbing by private entities and the authorities failed to tackle it, the Supreme Court passed the above order.

Case Title: ANITA KANDWAL Versus STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND ANR., SLP(Crl) No. 21058/2025