NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday slammed Uttarakhand govt for being a silent spectator for two decades to rampant encroachment of forest land in Rishikesh, which was allotted in 1950 to Gandhian Mira Behn by the then UP govt, and said it smacked of nexus between the executive and squatters. The court also sought details of such illegal constructions. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the facts of this case, prima facie, show how private individuals systematically grabbed thousands of acres of forest land while state govt remained in slumber from 2000 till 2023. Uttarakhand’s deputy advocate general Jatinder Kumar Sethi informed court that the state had recovered around 500 acres of forest land from encroachers in 2023 and an additional 50 acres in the drive carried out in the last three days at Rishikesh. He said the state would continue the drive against encroachers.However, the bench said the way squatters enjoyed residential rights unauthorisedly over vast tracts of forest land for more than two decades indicated collusion among politicians, bureaucrats and encroachers. It asked the state to file a detailed affidavit describing the extent of encroachment, nature of constructions and the officers who were at the helm of affairs between 2000-2023 for protection of govt land in the area.Of the 2,866 acres of land notified as forest area by the state, a part was leased to Pashulok Sewa Samiti, which was an organisation associated with Pashulok Ashram established by British born Mira Behn (Madeleine Slade). The society came under liquidation and surrendered 594 acres of land to the forest dept on Oct 23, 1984. Yet certain private individuals took control of the land.The bench had said, “What seems shocking to us is that Uttarakhand and its authorities are sitting as silent spectators when the forest land was being systematically grabbed in front of their eyes.” It enlarged the scope of the petition and directed the state’s chief secretary and principal chief conservator of forest to constitute an inquiry committee to examine all issues and submit a report to the SC.”Meanwhile, all private individuals are restrained from alienating the land, encumbering it or creating any third-party rights,” the bench had ordered on Dec 22 last year.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Senator Claims India Cut Russian Oil Buys And Sought Trump Tariff Relief Amid Pressure Bid On OilVHP Calls Out Bangladesh Chief Adviser Yunus’ ‘Empire of Unrest’ After 6 Hindus Killed In 18 DaysPathankot Arrest Of 15-Year-Old Spy Exposes Strategy Of Pakistan ISI Targeting Minors Against IndiaBangladesh Unrest Claims Two More Hindu Lives As Six Killings In 18 Days Raise Minority Safety Fears‘Really Happy For Others’: SC Rejects Umar Khalid’S Bail; Partner Shares His Reaction“Trump’s Interest Is Clear”: Ex-Diplomat Slams Venezuela ActionCPI-M Protests Near Us Consulate In Chennai Over Venezuela AttackBJP Welcomes SC Denial Of Bail To Umar Khalid And Sharjeel Imam; Opposition Calls It Unfortunate”US Has No Jurisdiction in Venezuela” Ex-UN Envoy Dilip Sinha Slams US Action In VenezuelaAfter T20 World Cup Move, Bangladesh Now Bans IPL 2026 Broadcast Amid Mustafizur Rahman Row123PhotostoriesTop gut health foods to add to your diet in 20265 signs you are emotionally invested more than your partnerWinter Special: How to make classic Palak Paneer for lunch at homeWhat Your Birth Date Says About You (More Than You Think)5 must-visit pilgrimage places for blessings and good luck in 2026Working parents and the myth of ‘quality time’; Here’s how parents manage work while giving time to their kidsPriyanka Chahar Choudhary’s stunning ethnic style game: From sarees to lehengaYour birth date can make you rich in 2026Why vitamin deficiencies often show up on your face or hairWhat is sarcopenia and why muscle loss begins earlier than you think123Hot PicksBudget 2026Vande Bharat Sleeper TrainPublic holidays January 2026Gold rate todayUS Visa BondsCigarette tax hikeBank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingSan Francisco 49ersCardi BQuinn HughesKyle TuckerSidney Crosby LifestyleTyrese Haliburton and Jade Jones Net WorthKevin StefanskiChicago Bulls vs Boston CelticsJohn PyleKevin Durant vs LeBron James Net Worth
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday slammed Uttarakhand govt for being a silent spectator for two decades to rampant encroachment of forest land in Rishikesh, which was allotted in 1950 to Gandhian Mira Behn by the then UP govt, and said it smacked of nexus between the executive and squatters. The court also sought details of such illegal constructions. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the facts of this case, prima facie, show how private individuals systematically grabbed thousands of acres of forest land while state govt remained in slumber from 2000 till 2023. Uttarakhand’s deputy advocate general Jatinder Kumar Sethi informed court that the state had recovered around 500 acres of forest land from encroachers in 2023 and an additional 50 acres in the drive carried out in the last three days at Rishikesh. He said the state would continue the drive against encroachers.However, the bench said the way squatters enjoyed residential rights unauthorisedly over vast tracts of forest land for more than two decades indicated collusion among politicians, bureaucrats and encroachers. It asked the state to file a detailed affidavit describing the extent of encroachment, nature of constructions and the officers who were at the helm of affairs between 2000-2023 for protection of govt land in the area.Of the 2,866 acres of land notified as forest area by the state, a part was leased to Pashulok Sewa Samiti, which was an organisation associated with Pashulok Ashram established by British born Mira Behn (Madeleine Slade). The society came under liquidation and surrendered 594 acres of land to the forest dept on Oct 23, 1984. Yet certain private individuals took control of the land.The bench had said, “What seems shocking to us is that Uttarakhand and its authorities are sitting as silent spectators when the forest land was being systematically grabbed in front of their eyes.” It enlarged the scope of the petition and directed the state’s chief secretary and principal chief conservator of forest to constitute an inquiry committee to examine all issues and submit a report to the SC.“Meanwhile, all private individuals are restrained from alienating the land, encumbering it or creating any third-party rights,” the bench had ordered on Dec 22 last year.
