Latest news with #IndianForestAct
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.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt to notify Southern Ridge after verification of villages
The Delhi government's department of forests and wildlife has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has begun an on-ground verification across 12 villages in the Southern Ridge, which will pave the way for final notification under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The government told NGT that a crucial joint ground verification exercise is underway across 12 villages. (FILE) Sharing detailed timelines which will see verification be completed across a majority of the villages before the end of the year, the department in its affidavit said that a detailed demarcation was last carried out in 2019. This comes in compliance with a July 4 NGT directive. Delhi's Ridge areas have already been notified under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. However, the final notification under Section 20 is yet to be completed, which grants complete protection and defines the boundaries. The affidavit, filed by Shyam Sundar Kandpal, principal chief conservator of forests and head of department, outlines that a crucial joint ground verification exercise is underway across 12 villages. This comes after a high-level meeting was chaired by the lieutenant governor on May 23 this year, where it was decided that the revenue and forest departments must verify that the areas are free from encroachments before the final notification. 'In order to minimise potential discrepancies or errors in demarcation and need for identification or verification of encroachment, the Government has directed the Revenue Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), along with the Department of Forests and Wildlife, GNCTD to jointly conduct a ground verification exercise for the area proposed,' the affidavit mentions. The affidavit includes a detailed timeline for completing the verification village-wise, coordinated by respective district magistrates and subdivisional magistrates. Surveys of villages in Saket division, namely Sahoorpur and Asola, are expected to be completed between July and August. Survey of Neb Sarai is slotted for September, Maidangarhi in September and October, Satbari in November and Bhati will be surveyed in December and January 2026. In Mehrauli, Dera Mandi ground verification is scheduled in August and September , Aya Nagar in October and November, and Jonapur in December and January 2026. Ghitorni and Rajokri are expected to be completed by August, along with Tughlakabad. The forest department has pledged to finalise notifications immediately after ground verification and has requested the tribunal to allow six months for completing this exercise. Delhi has four prominent Ridge areas, with the total area under the Ridge as reserved forests totalling around 7,784 hectares. The largest – the southern Ridge is spread over an area of 6,200 hectares.
News18
20-07-2025
- Climate
- News18
Despite measures, forest fires still a big concern in Maharashtra: Official
Mumbai, Jul 20 (PTI) Forest fires continue to threaten Maharashtra's ecosystems, particularly in the eastern parts of the state, despite several measures and technological interventions, a senior forest department official said on Sunday. Forest Minister Ganesh Naik had earlier informed the legislature that between January 1 and April 15 this year, 204 forest fire incidents were reported from various forest areas across several districts. Naik had said that most of these fires were caused by human negligence or natural factors. 'Although no wildlife deaths have been reported during these incidents, the recurrence of fires remains a concern," he had said. The official said that the Forest Department has taken multiple steps, including issuing fire prevention guidelines, training personnel, and deploying firefighting equipment, the official said. 'In January 2024 alone, eight fire incidents were recorded," the official said, adding that illegal burning of forest areas is being tackled under provisions of the Indian Forest Act. In several regions in the state, including Konkan, Vidarbha and the northern parts, people start forest fires to keep wild animals at bay. Fires are also used to clear forested patches and stake claims to the land, as many areas lack clearly demarcated forest boundaries, the official said. Efforts to prevent fires include the marking of forest boundaries, creation of fire lines, and increased patrolling in vulnerable areas. 'We have trained staff in fire management and are using modern equipment to enhance response time," the official said. Despite these measures, a large number of fires continue to erupt, he said. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, released in December last year, Maharashtra ranked fifth in the country with 16,008 forest fire incidents between November 2023 and June 2024. Of these, Gadchiroli alone accounted for 7,042 cases, the highest number for any district in India. 'The department is using advanced tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to identify high-risk zones. Forest fire control centres have been established, fire-blower machines are used to remove dry leaf litter, and observation towers have been installed in sensitive areas," the official said. Meanwhile, the state has also recorded a sharp increase in human-wildlife conflicts. According to official records, such incidents, including human deaths, injuries, crop damage and livestock loss, rose from 44,692 in 2020-21 to 2,37,841 in 2023-24. To address compensation and related concerns, the state government allocated Rs 80 crore each in 2020-21 and 2021-22, Rs 127.1 crore in 2022-23, Rs 145 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 220.86 crore in 2024-25. 'The Forest Department has submitted a proposal to the Finance Department for additional financial provision based on the increasing number of conflict cases. The proposal, based on data from December 2023, is currently under review," the official added. PTI ND NR view comments First Published: July 20, 2025, 21:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Time of India
Sandalwood smuggling gang busted, 45cr wood seized
Indore: In a major crackdown, Mandsaur police station in Mandsaur district arrested two members of an interstate red sandalwood smuggling racket and seized 2,260 kilogram of red sandalwood, valued at around Rs 4.5 crore in the international market. Mandsaur SP Abhishek Anand said that acting on a tip-off, a team intercepted a tractor during vehicle checking on July 16. On searching the vehicle, the team recovered 180 bundles of red sandalwood weighing 2,260 kg being transported illegally. The arrested accused have been identified as Yatindra Rathore (34), son of Vishnulal Rathore of Dalpatpura, and Ajay (19), son of Shyamlal, a resident of the same village under Jeeran police station limits. A third accused, Rajendra alias Raju Bhai alias Salim Bhai, son of Saligram Patidar, a resident of Gogaripura, is currently absconding. A case has been registered under sections 303(2), 317(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), sections 21 and 22 of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Produce (Trade) Regulation Act, 2000, and sections 26, 33, and 42 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. Police officials noted that the smugglers were inspired by scenes from films and planned the trafficking accordingly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Authorities highlighted that red sandalwood, also known as 'rakta chandan' (blood sandalwood), is a rare and protected species found primarily in the Seshachalam, Veligonda, Lankamala, and Palkonda ranges of the southeastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. Its illegal trade remains a serious concern due to high demand and restricted habitat.
