Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120354050500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Court seeks details of forestland sale

Staff Reporter

MADURAI: The Madras High Court has sought details from the Inspector-General of Registration of any sale deed executed in respect of forestland in any of the registrar or sub-registrar offices in the State.

Justices K. Raviraja Pandian and P.P.S. Janarthana Raja passed the interim orders on a public interest litigation petition filed in the Madurai Bench alleging illegal sale of 200 acres of forestland at Ponnusangampatti in Thuraiyur taluk of Tiruchi district.

Stating that the forest property could not have been alienated without the connivance of Revenue Department officials, the judges suo motu impleaded the Tiruchi Collector as one of the parties and directed him to file a detailed counter affidavit.

They also recorded the Special Government Pleader’s submission that he had details of at least 10 sale deeds executed in respect of forestland and directed him to file petitions to include the 10 individuals as respondents.

In his counter affidavit, the District Forest Officer conceded that 10 sale deeds were executed and registered at the Thuraiyur sub-registrar’s office on August 3, 2006, in respect of reserve forestland at Ponnusangampatti by quoting certain ‘patta’ numbers.

He pointed out that a patta (land ownership document) could not be issued for any forestland, as it was against the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.