The Division Bench of the National Green Tribunal, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr. A. Senthil Vel has issuing notice to the State of Assam regarding the alleged illegal diversion of protected forest land for a Commando Battalion headquarters in Barak Valley.
The bench referred to the newspaper report that Assam government's top forest officials had illegally diverted 44 hectares of protected forest land for a Commando Battalion headquarters in Barak Valley, by passing the mandatory procedures under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, permission has been granted for construction of the 2nd Assam Command Battalion Unit headquarter inside the Inner Line of Reserved Forest in Hailakandi district.
The Bench showed concern, expressed in the reports and have taken this matter in suo motu exercise of power which is permissible in terms of the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.
Considering the importance of the case, the Bench impleaded following as respondents in the matter:-
1. Inspector General, MoEF &CC;
2. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & Head of Forest Force (HoFF),Assam Forest Department;
3. Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam Forest Department;
4. Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate, District Hailakandi.
Therefore, the Court issued notice to the concerned authorities and listed the matter on 15.02.24 for next hearing.
Case Details
Case:- Original Application No. 61/2024
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