In Brief
The State of Karnataka granted 134 acres of forest land to a farming cooperative in the 1970s for agriculture. The lease expired in 1985; the State terminated it, leading to decades of litigation. After eviction by forest authorities in 2007, the High Court permitted the society to seek lease continuation through representation to the Centre. The Supreme Court allowed the State's appeal, holding that forest land cannot be leased for non-forest purposes like agriculture without prior Central Government approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The Court set aside the High Court's order, directing restoration of forest cover through reforestation within 12 months, reaffirming strict environmental protection standards.
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