Latest news with #ForestConservationAct
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Forest Act violation case: Mohali court upholds WWICS owner's 2009 conviction but no jail
The court of additional sessions judge Prashant Verma on Monday upheld the 2009 conviction of Colonel Baljit Singh Sandhu (retd), the owner of World Wide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS), for violating Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, by constructing a resort on a forest land in Mohali's Karoran village. However, instead of sentencing him to jail, the court granted him probation. Probation in criminal cases allows a convicted person to avoid incarceration and remain in the community but under supervision. Col Baljit Singh Sandhu (retd) (HT File) As per the order, Sandhu will serve his sentence under the supervision of a probation officer, instead of being jailed. Sandhu's counsel Amit Mandkan said they will challenge this sentence and file a revision petition before a higher court. The case stems from a judgment dated September 17, 2009, issued by the chief judicial magistrate, Rupnagar, convicting Sandhu for violating Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The conviction was specifically under Section 3(A) of the Act, which prescribes penalties for contraventions of Section 2. The accused had filed an application under Section 359(5) (corresponding to Section 320 of the CrPC, 1973) seeking compounding of the offence. Compounding refers to settlement of certain criminal cases by allowing the complainant to withdraw their complaint in exchange for some compensation or resolution. The plea was based on Section 68 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, which allows certain offences to be compounded by the forest officer. Sandhu contended that the land in question, being treated as forest land under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, should allow compounding of the offence. However, his application had earlier been rejected by the Mohali divisional forest officer. The state government strongly opposed the plea, arguing that the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, contains no provision for compounding offences. It further maintained that Section 68 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, applies only to violations specified within that Act, and thus, Sandhu's application was legally untenable. Despite rejecting the compounding plea, the court showed leniency by granting probation, giving the convict a chance to demonstrate compliance with the law under supervised conditions.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
WWICS chief's conviction upheld in Forest Act case
Mohali: A local court on Monday upheld the 2009 conviction of Col Baljit Singh Sandhu (retd), owner of WorldWide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS), in a case under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, but granted him probation instead of jail time. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The order was pronounced by additional sessions judge Prashant Verma. Under the probation terms, Sandhu will now serve his sentence under the supervision of a probation officer, allowing him to remain in the community rather than face incarceration. The decision effectively offers the convict a chance to rehabilitate under legal scrutiny, in accordance with provisions of criminal law. Advocate Amit Mandkan, counsel for Sandhu, said they plan to challenge the sentencing further. "We will file for revision of the sentence in a higher court," he said. The case pertains to a violation of Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, for which Sandhu was convicted by the chief judicial magistrate, Rupnagar, on Sept 17, 2009. The conviction was made under Section 3(A) of the Act, which deals with penalties for unauthorised use or diversion of forest land. Sandhu filed an application seeking compounding of the offence under Section 359(5), corresponding to Section 320 of the CrPC, 1973. He argued that the offence should be compoundable under Section 68 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, which permits certain forest-related offences to be settled out of court. However, the application was rejected by the Divisional Forest Officer, Mohali, and subsequently contested by the State. The prosecution maintained that the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 does not contain any provision to compound offences, and Section 68 of the 1927 Act applies only to specific offences listed under that statute. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The court concurred with the State's argument but granted probation considering the long-pending nature of the case and other mitigating factors. The court's decision highlights the legal complexity in cases involving overlapping provisions of environmental laws and underscores the distinction between compoundable and non-compoundable offences under different forest legislations. While the probation order spares Sandhu from immediate jail time, the legal battle appears far from over as the defence prepares to pursue further relief through appellate forums.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Jai Ram urges PM for area-specific disaster relief package
Shimla: Former chief minister and leader of the opposition, Jai Ram Thakur , met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and urged for an area-specific monsoon disaster relief package for rehabilitation and reconstruction, as well as relaxation in the Forest Conservation Act to provide forest land for resettling those who lost their homes. He also called for a study into the recurring natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh. Thakur briefed the PM about the damage in disaster-affected areas of the hill state. He said that not only homes but lands were also swept away in this disaster, leaving people without a place to rebuild. The leader of the opposition also thanked the PM for the support provided during relief and rescue operations. The former chief minister mentioned that the disaster resulted in over Rs 1,200 crore in damages across the state, with more than Rs 1,000 crore of losses in the Seraj constituency alone. On the night of June 30, a total of 42 lives were lost in Seraj, Karsog, and Nachan, with 29 victims from Seraj alone. Over 500 houses were washed away, and 1,000 houses were damaged beyond habitation, he said. The PM was apprised that damage also occurred in Nachan, Karsog, and Dharampur, with the village of Syathi in Dharampur destroyed, forcing people to sleep outdoors. As several areas in the state are repeatedly facing natural disasters, Thakur requested a study into the causes of these recurring disasters to prevent future losses. MSID:: 122952142 413 |
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mandi flash flood: Jai Ram Thakur meets PM Modi, seeks concessions in Forest Conservation Act, relief package to resettle displaced families
Himachal Pradesh Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged for concessions under the Forest Conservation Act so that displaced families in Mandi, the worst-hit district in the recent flash floods, can be resettled safely on alternative land. The former chief minister also urged PM Modi to provide an area-specific relief package for rehabilitation and reconstruction, and sought to initiate a study to examine the root causes of recurring natural disasters in the state, in a bid to mitigate future losses. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has also been urging the Centre to relax rules and regulations under the Forest Conservation Act to rehabilitate the displaced families on forest land. The 1980 Act aims to regulate and restrict the de-reservation and use of forest land for non-forest purposes. It mandates prior approval from the central government for any relaxation in the rule. During Monday's meeting, which lasted around an hour, Thakur, who represents the Seraj Assembly constituency in Mandi, briefed PM Modi on the overall devastation caused by recent natural disasters in various parts of Himachal Pradesh. He said the PM took detailed stock of the damage and assured full support for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Thakur said he informed PM Modi that people had not only lost their homes but also their land, leaving them with nowhere to rebuild amid a disaster that caused losses exceeding Rs 1,200 crore across the state. Damages worth over Rs 1,000 crore were reported in Seraj constituency alone, he added. On the night of June 30, 42 lives were lost in Seraj, Karsog, and Nachan following flash floods triggered by the cloudburst in Mandi, with Seraj alone accounting for 29 deaths. Over 500 homes were completely washed away, while another 1,000 houses sustained major damages. Thakur added that heavy damage was also reported in Nachan, Karsog, and Dharampur, where Syathi village was completely razed.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Former Himachal CM calls on PM Modi, seeks ‘area-specific' relief package
New Delhi: With the loss pegged at over Rs 1,200 crore, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprised him of the damage caused in disaster-affected areas of the state while seeking an 'area-specific' relief package for rehabilitation. The Prime Minister took detailed information about the damage and assured all possible support in reconstruction and rehabilitation in the disaster-affected areas. Jairam Thakur said the Prime Minister was apprised that not only houses but also agricultural lands were washed away in the calamity that occurred on the night of June 30. 'Now people do not even have land to build houses. In such a situation, concessions should be given in the Forest Conservation Act to give them land so that the homeless people can be resettled in safe places,' a statement quoting BJP leader Thakur said. He has also requested the Prime Minister to give an 'area-specific' relief package for rehabilitation and reconstruction, and to study the causes of repeated natural disasters in the state to avoid losses. Thakur also thanked the Prime Minister for providing all possible support in the relief and rescue work. Thakur said the state has suffered a loss of more than Rs 1,200 crore. Out of this, more than Rs 1,000 crore has been incurred in the Seraj assembly alone. On the night of June 30, a total of 42 people lost their lives in Seraj, Karsog and Nachan, and 29 people were from Seraj alone. He said more than 500 houses were completely washed away, and 1,000 houses were damaged partially and, now not fit for living. Besides, there has been heavy damage in Nachan, Karsog and Dharampur too. Syathi village in Dharampur was completely razed to the ground, and people are spending nights in the open. 'Therefore, a request has also been made to provide 'area-specific' relief package for rehabilitation and reconstruction,' said Thakur, the sixth-time legislator from Seraj in Mandi district. He said natural calamities are recurring in many areas of the state. The Prime Minister has also been requested to study the causes of this so that repeated losses can be prevented.
