In Brief
The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal challenging a railway redevelopment project near New Bijwasan Station, Delhi. The appellants argued that land designated under the Delhi Master Plan for mixed-use development should be treated as "forest" or "deemed forest" due to vegetation growth, requiring prior Central Government approval under the Forest Conservation Act. The Court held that land historically classified as agricultural in revenue records and designated for non-forest use under a statutory Master Plan cannot be reclassified as forest merely because of subsequent tree growth, including invasive species. The legal character of land for forest protection purposes is determined at the time of Master Plan's enactment, not later. The Court upheld the National Green Tribunal's dismissal, finding the statutory Master Plan takes precedence and no forest clearance was required for the project.
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