In Brief
In this appeal, the State of Kerala challenged the High Court's decision that 1.3 acres of land in Kannur district is not a private forest under the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971, and therefore not vested in the State. The respondents claimed the land was under cultivation (with cashew and rubber plantations over 30–40 years old) when the Act came into force and had obtained a purchase certificate under land reform law. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court, noting that a field inspection confirmed the land was cultivated with no forest trees and was not covered by the Madras Preservation of Private Forest Act. The Court found no merit in the State's appeal and dismissed it.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.