Paragraph numbers below are the court’s original numbering, recovered from the source text.
10. The BBTCL assailed the said declarations in Writ Petition No. 16921 of 2014, which is still pending consideration.
11. We are informed that there are more such tea estates in the State of Tamil Nadu which were allotted for cultivations by the erstwhile Zamindars by changing the nature of forest lands to revenue lands.
12. Concurrently, a batch of writ petitions came to be filed in the High Court of Madras, some of which were in the nature of Public Interest Litigations relating to forest issues, while others pertained to the claims of the displaced tea estate workers to protect their livelihood and rights to rehabilitation, compensation and re-employment pursuant to their dislodgement from the tea estate. In the Public Interest Litigations [i.e., Writ Petition (MD) Nos. 16381 of 2024, 16501 of 2024, 19108 of 2024 and 24693 of 2024], a specific prayer was made to restore the entire forest area lands, which had been destroyed on account of plantation activities. All the above writ petitions were clubbed and taken up together by the High Court.
13. In these proceedings, a status report was filed by the Deputy Director and Wildlife Warden of the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, stating therein that the Government vide GOM dated 2nd January, 2018, has declared an area to the extent of 22979.19 hectares to be a reserve forest under Section 16 of the Tamil Nadu Forests Act, 1882 [for short the ‘Act’], which includes 3388.78 hectares area leased to BBTCL. This declaration was made after following the due process of law as provided under the TN Forest Act, taking into consideration the various claims made under the Act. It was also stated in the said affidavit that as per Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, prior approval of the Government of India is [2025] 3 S.C.R. A. John Kennedy Etc. v. State of Tamil Nadu and Others Etc. required for assigning use of forest land for non-forestry purposes, by way of lease or otherwise to any private person, or to any authority, corporation, agency or other organization. The entire area leased out to the tea estate by the former Zamindar of Singampatti forest lands forms the core of the Kalakkad- Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and has been declared as ‘Core Critical Tiger Habitat’ vide GO No. 145 dated 28th December, 2007, issued by Environment & Forests Department, Government of India.
14. It was further mentioned that preserving the said area is critical for the survival and well-being of the entire eco-system. The reserve forest is a very critical component and forms the catchment area of a perennial river in the State of Tamil Nadu, namely, “Thamirabarai”. Any disturbance to the eco-system would have adverse consequences to the water supply as well as the environment of the area in question, thereby affecting millions of people living in the adjoining districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, etc. It was emphasized in the affidavit that restoration of the forests, on previously leased out lands put to cultivation use, was of utmost importance to maintain the ecological balance.
15. The affidavit also mentions that most of the plantation workers, who were seeking reliefs in the writ petitions, were outsiders comprising of the migratory population and thus, they were not falling within the definition of ‘traditional forest dwellers.’ The affidavit reiterates and reaffirms that the entire area of Singampatti village, including the area leased-out to the BBTC, has been declared as a reserved forest vide GO (M.S.) No. 03 dated 12th January, 2018.
16. The Division Bench of the High Court referred to an earlier judgment authored by Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. M. Sundresh (as His Lordship then was), in the case of Bombay Burma Trading Corporation Ltd. and Ors. v. State of Tamil Nadu and Ors. (2018) 1 CTC 733, wherein extensive directions (quoted below), were given to the Government to preserve and restore the forest area:- “39. The area in issue is pristine forest area. It has rich biodiversity and it must be preserved at least for the future generations. It accommodates river sanctuary. There flow 14 rivers in the Agasthyamalai landscape. The area must be protected as it is. Therefore, keeping in mind the climate change and its effect, every human being in the world has to ensure the preservation of eco system 1444 and to continuously endeavour towards protection of air, water and land.”
17. It is, in this background, and considering the importance of restoration of the forest areas in the entire Agasthyamalai landscape, we requested learned Solicitor General Shri Tushar Mehta and Shri K. Parameshwar, Senior Advocate, who appears as Amicus Curiae in the forest related matters, to assist the Court in this matter.
18. On the previous date of hearing, Shri Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General, submitted that the Central Government is committed to conservation and restoration of forest areas and shall unreservedly comply with all directions which may be issued by this Court to secure this objective.
19. Shri K. Parameshwar, learned Amicus Curiae pointed out that the region in question is an important biodiversity hotspot in the Western Ghats, comprising a part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. He drew the Court’s attention to para 4 of the judgment in Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd. (supra) which is quoted as under:- “4. Biosphere Reserve (BR) is a representative part of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystem or a combination thereof. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve forms the core zone of Agasthiyarmalai Biosphere Reserve. In the 4th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve has been declared as World Biosphere Reserve taking note of its cultural and ecological diversity. Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserve under the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Program of UNESCO in the 28th Session of International Coordinating Council held in Lima, Peru from 18th to 19th March, 2016.”
20. Shri Parameshwar referred to topography of the Agasthyamalai landscape, which includes within its ambit the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghamalai and Thirunelveli Wildlife Sanctuaries. He pointed out that the High Court of Madras in the afore-quoted judgment of 2018, has recognized this entire area as crucial to elephant conservation in Southern India. He urged that the High Court has already issued a mandate to evacuate the tea estate workers from the critical [2025] 3 S.C.R. A. John Kennedy Etc. v. State of Tamil Nadu and Others Etc. forest areas which have to be maintained as pristine forests and no commercial activities, including ecotourism cultivation, etc. can be permitted on these lands. He further submitted that significant part of the encroachment is owing to the illegal cultivation of silk cotton being carried out by the unscrupulous elements in the core forest areas.
21. However, it was the contention of learned Amicus Curiae that with the efflux of time, these directions have lost their edge and have become inadequate for meaningful restoration and rehabilitation of the Agasthyamalai landscape. He urged that it is imperative that a scientific survey should be carried out for determining the boundaries of all the forest areas in the Agasthyamalai landscape and to identify the extent of encroachments prevailing thereupon. As per Shri Parmeshwar, only after the forest areas are identified and distinctly demarcated, measures required to restore and rejuvenate the forest areas which are extensively being depleted owing to systematic encroachments and exploitation by cultivated plantations, going on for almost one century, can be set in motion. The forest boundaries need to be secured, preceded by a scientific survey, which should include Satellite Imagery by Remote Sensing methods and Geo-Mapping of the entire area failing which the objective of establishing the tiger reserves i.e., ‘Core Critical Tiger Habitat’ and having a healthy tiger population in the said reserve forests can never be achieved. He referred to the following observations made by this Court in T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad (2025) 2 SCC 641 and urged that a healthy tiger population is crucial to the health of the forests and that a ‘Core Critical Tiger Habitat’ merits the highest level of protection. The same is reproduced hereinbelow: “The tiger perishes without the forest and the forest perishes without its tigers. Therefore, the tiger should stand guard over the forest and the forest should protect all its tigers.” This is how the importance of the tigers in the ecosystem has been succinctly described in ‘Mahabharta’. The existence of the forest is necessary for the protection of tigers. In turn, if the tiger is protected, the ecosystem which revolves around him is also protected. The tiger represents the apex of the animal pyramid and the protection of their habitat must be a priority. “A healthy tiger population is an indicator of sustainable development in the 13 tiger range countries.” 1446
22. Learned Amicus Curiae prayed that the Central Empowered Committee (‘CEC’) constituted under the directions of this Court may be asked to conduct an extensive survey of the entire landscape and to give its suggestions for restoration of the pristine forest ecosystem.
23. Shri Parmeshwar further submitted that the CEC may be assigned the task of surveying the entire Agasthyamalai landscape so as to find out the extent of encroachments, if any, existing in these areas including the critical tiger reserves; to give a report regarding non- forestry activities (including any kind of cultivation) in and around the reserved forest areas.
24. He urged that the concerned authorities of the State may be mandated to stop the Government facilities and to remove all infrastructures including fair price shops, schools, Anganwadi, banks, water supplies, roads, bridges, transport facilities, etc. being provided in these reserved forest areas.
25. He also submitted that this Court may be pleased to provide protection to the forest personnel from malicious prosecutions in which they are frequently being entangled during the eviction proceedings; and to direct the local administration and police authorities to provide support and protection to the forest personnel during the eviction process.
26. Shri P.S. Raman, learned Advocate General appearing for the State of Tamil Nadu, submitted that the State Government is committed to ensure that no part of the reserve forest areas is encroached upon and that the entire area of the Agasthyamalai landscape which includes reserved forests referred to supra, are freed from encroachments and restored to their original form. He urged that the State Government has already taken proactive initiatives to ensure removal of encroachments, restoration of the forests and rehabilitation of the tea estate workers. The process for restoration of the Singampatti Zamin area as a forest area has already been commenced and the task of relocating and rehabilitation of the workers is complete. He assured that the State Government shall provide all support to the CEC in the process of survey, as may be directed by this Court.
27. In view of the submissions noted above and as an interim measure, to initiate the process of restoration of the pristine forest areas and to protect the tiger habitats/wildlife reserves/sanctuaries falling [2025] 3 S.C.R. A. John Kennedy Etc. v. State of Tamil Nadu and Others Etc. under the Agasthyamalai landscape, we hereby direct the CEC to conduct an extensive survey of the entire Agasthyamalai landscape, which would include Periyar Tiger Reserve, Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghamalai and Thirunelveli Wildlife Sanctuaries. The CEC shall indicate in its report all instances of non-forestry activities going on in these areas contrary to the statutory provisions viz, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, etc.
28. Comparative data pertaining to the forest cover as it existed earlier vis-à-vis the current position shall also be provided so as to gauge the extent of depletion/degradation in the forest area.
29. The CEC shall also recommend measures for restoration of (a) the reserved forests, (b) the tiger habitats, and (c) elephant corridors and (d) other wildlife reserves (sanctuaries) in and around the Agsthyamalai landscape, including the above-mentioned sanctuaries/ reserves. For this purpose, the CEC may employ all scientific procedures including Remote Sensing Satellite Imagery, Geo Mapping etc., so that the process of survey can be expedited.
30. The concerned officials of the State Government including the District Administration, the Police Administration and the forest officials of each district involved shall be responsible for providing all required assistance and support to the CEC for completing the process of survey.
31. Twelve weeks’ time is granted to the CEC for completing this exercise.
32. The matter shall be listed on 15th July, 2025, for receiving the report of the CEC and for further directions.
33. The issues relating to rehabilitation of the workers shall be considered on 22nd April, 2025.
34. List on 22nd April, 2025. Result of the case: Directions issued. †Headnotes prepared by: Bibhuti Bhushan Bose