New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court has ruled that Zudpi Jungle land in Maharashtra can be considered for compensatory afforestation only if there is a specific certification by the Chief Secretary of the state regarding the non-availability of non-forest land.
A bench, comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, issued the judgment, while hearing a batch of applications concerning the legal status and usage of Zudpi Jungle lands in six districts of Eastern Vidarbha - Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli.
The State of Maharashtra had approached the court, submitting that while Zudpi Jungle lands are recorded in revenue documents as forest lands, historically, these parcels have long been used for non-forestry purposes such as residential housing, agriculture, government offices, schools, and health centres.