5. Q.)
1. Any diversion of forest property for any purpose, including assignment of leases, requires prior permission of the State Government under the Forest Conservation Act of 1980.
2. The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 was primarily focused on reserve forests and national parks.
3. In 1996, the Supreme Court broadened the concept of forest land to encompass any places designated as forest in official records, regardless of ownership, recognition, or categorization.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Solution: c
● The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released proposed revisions to the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, facilitating forest diversion and exempting some types of development from the need for Ministry approval.
● It has only been changed once before, in 1988.
● According to ministry officials, the present definition of forest has enslaved land across the country, preventing even private landowners from using their land for non-forestry activities. Any diversion of forest property for any purpose, including lease assignment, requires prior clearance from the Centre under the Act.
● The Supreme Court enlarged the definition and extent of forest land in T N Godavarman Thirumulpad v Union of India in 1996, finding that forest land includes any places listed as forest in any official record, regardless of ownership, recognition, or categorization.
● Previously, the Act only applied to national parks and reserve forests.
Q.