(Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta, JJ.)
In Re : T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad ___________________ Petitioner
v.
Union of India And Ors. & Ors. _____________________ Respondent(s)
[1] Interlocutory Application Nos. 2354-2355 [Applications For Impleadment and Directions]
In Re : Bikram Singh Regarding Alleged Misuse of Forest Rest Houses
Writ Petition(s) (Civil) No(s). 202/1995, decided on July 5, 2018
The Order of the court was delivered by
Order
1. Applications were filed by Mr. Bikram Singh to the effect that the Forest Rest Houses/Inspection Bungalows located inside the Forests are being misused for a variety of activities.
2. We had issued notice in the application and after due consultation between the Union of India, Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the applicant, guidelines have been framed by the CEC for control and maintenance of Forest Rest Houses/Inspection Bungalows located inside the Forests. These guidelines are acceptable to all concerned including the Union of India. The guidelines are as follows:
GUIDELINES FOR CONTROL AND MAINTENANCE OF FOREST REST HOUSES (FRH)/INSPECTION BUNGALOWS (IB) LOCATED INSIDE THE FORESTS.
A. Forest officers are required to camp inside the forests where no alternate accommodation is available. Forest Rest Houses/Inspection Bungalows are facilities created for camping of forest officers primarily for discharge of their duties connected with conservation, protection and management of forests and wildlife. These Rest Houses have very limited number of rooms. Therefore the control of Forest Rest Houses, including their reservation, shall under all circumstances remain with the Forest Department.
B. The District Administration may, in special circumstances and for a limited period be granted priority reservation of rooms in the FRH/IB’s for specific purposes. At no circumstance the control of the FRH/IB’s located inside the forests be taken over by the District Administration/Government.
C. Forest Rest Houses/Inspection Bungalows located within the forest area including the Protected Areas shall not be transferred to private and commercial entities in the name of public – private partnership or by whatever name such an arrangement is called, for promotion of any form of tourism including Ecotourism.
D. The Forest Department should make every effort to retain the basic plan and elevation of old FRHs/IB’s many of which are heritage buildings, while making improvement/addiction to these buildings.
3. We expect these guidelines to prevent the misuse of Forest Rest Houses/Inspection Bungalows, particularly since they have the approval of the Union of India as well. Accordingly, we accept the guidelines and make them an order of this Court.
4. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is directed to circulate a copy of this order to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of all the States and ensure that they abide by these guidelines.
5. The applications stand disposed of in view of the above.
Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 202/1995
In Re : T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad ________________ Petitioner
v.
Union of India & Ors ___________________________ Respondent(s)
INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NOS. 83775/2018 AND 84922/2018
[APPLICATIONS FOR DIRECTIONS AND EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.]
IN RE : POWER GRID CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD.
Date : 05-07-2018 These applications were called on for hearing today.
(Before Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta, JJ.)
For Petitioner(s) Mr. Harish N. Salve, Sr. Adv. [A.C.] [NP]
Mr. A.D.N. Rao, Advocate [A.C.]
Mr. Siddhartha Chowdhury, Advocate [A.C.]
Ms. Aparajita Singh, Advocate [A.C.] [NP]
For Respondent(S) Mr. A.N.S. Nadkarni, ASG
Mr. S. Wasim A. Qadri, Adv.
Mr. D.L. Chidananda, Adv.
Mr. Ritesh Kumar, Adv.
Mr. Saeed Qadri, Adv.
Mr. G.S. Makker, Adv.
Mr. Ravindra Bana, Adv.
Mrs. Anil Katiyar, Adv.
Mr. D.N. Goburdhun, Adv.
Ms. Pallavi Chopra, Adv.
Mr. Vikas Singh, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Ashwarya Sinha, Adv.
Mr. R. Bala, Adv.
Mr. Prabhas Bajaj, Adv.
Ms. Aarti Sharma, Adv.
Mr. B.V. Balaram Das, Adv.
Mr. Vishnu B. Saharya, Adv.
For M/S. Saharya And Co.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
ORDER
6. A specific affidavit with regard to project be filed by the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. List the matter on 18th July, 2018.
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