Written By – Shianjany Pradhan
In Re: T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India & Ors, the SC of India put a stop on all the ongoing construction work inside the Jim Corbett National Park, Uttrakhand.
The bench of Justice BR Gavai and Vikram Nath was hearing a batch of petitions, pertaining to the alleged construction of illegal water bodies, and, unlawful felling of trees.
The amicus briefed the court regarding the construction work was going on without any statutory approval. Moreover, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NCTA) and High Power Committee constituted by the Hon’ble Uttrakhand High Court found major irregularities and illegalities in the construction activity.
There was no administrative or financial sanction from the competent authority. The design of the constructions repudiates the claim that they were built for forest staff. In the name of a safari, 6,093 trees in the national park had been cut. “This is not an unofficial document. This number has been recorded by the Forest Survey of India.
The Court questioned regarding the source of money and the approval of the contractors for the construction work upon which the counsel answered that the money was sanctioned by the state government without approval and work order was issued by former divisional forest officer.
Justice Gavai issued a temporary injunction on further construction activities within the core areas of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves.
