In Brief
Forest land in Wayanad, Kerala was claimed vested under the 1971 Act but declared exempt by High Court judgment. When restoration proved impossible, the State offered compensation but later notified it as ecologically fragile land under the 2003 Act, which bars compensation. The Supreme Court held that although the 2003 Act extinguished ownership rights without compensation, owners remain entitled to compensation for wrongful deprivation of possession from 1971–2003. The Court awarded 50% of the Tehsildar's assessed land value, balancing statutory prohibition against the injustice of 45 years of deprivation of established rights and land benefits.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.