KOTA SHIVRAM KARANTH Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a public interest litigation. The main complaint of the petitioners is that an area of 30,000. 00 hectares of reserve/minor forest and C and D class lands had been handed over to a Joint Sector Undertaking called the Karnataka Pulp Wood Limited for the purpose of developing the area as a plantation for producing raw material for the paper industry. The petitioners complain that the conversion of the land for the said purpose would upset the ecological balance of the area and affect the livelihood of persons who depend upon the produce of the forests. One of the other complaints is against the formation of a Joint Sector Company to take over the said land.

(2.) The State has now produced before us an affidavit together with a government Order dated 24/10/1991 stating that a decision hasbeen finally taken by the State government to wind up the aforesaid karnataka Pulp Wood Ltd. It is further stated in paragraphs 6 and 7 of the affidavit as follows:

(3.) The averments in the affidavit and the government Order show that the Company is being wound up and 8,524 hectares of land handed over to the Company will be taken over by the Karnataka Forest Development corporation Limited which is a fully State government owned Corporation and the produce from the said area of 8,524 hectares would be available to the public. The rest of the area under the Sanction Order will be dealt with according to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and other relevant laws. In this respect, paragraph 4 of the affidavit is relevant. It reads: