In Brief
The State of Kerala challenged a High Court judgment that set aside a Forest Tribunal order and held that certain land with cashew and rubber plantations was not a private forest under the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971. The High Court, relying on a local inspection report, found the property was under cultivation with trees over 30-40 years old, contained no forest trees, and was not covered by the Madras Preservation of Private Forest Act. The Supreme Court found no merit in the appeal, holding that concurrent findings of fact by the lower courts were binding and properly established the land was cultivated, not forest land. The appeal was dismissed.
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