In Brief
The Supreme Court addressed whether the Tamil Nadu Government could notify private lands as an elephant corridor and restrict their use without following the Land Acquisition Act. While affirming the State's constitutional power to protect wildlife habitats on private property through notifications, the Court held that if lands are to be acquired, statutory procedures must be followed. The judgment directed an independent Inquiry Committee to verify claims of Scheduled Tribe ownership and forest rights before final disposition. No construction is permitted in the elephant corridor, and authorities must document and address existing structures.
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