VINOD KUMAR Vs. RANGE FOREST OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Introduction:

(2.) Vinod Kumar, the petitioner, owns three acres within the Meppady Forest Range. He claims title to the property through his mother, the 4th respondent. His mother is said to have gifted the property to him, through a registered deed of gift.

(3.) In the course of time, Vinod applied to the Range Forest Officer ("Forest Officer"), the first respondent, for permission to cut and carry the trees on the land. The Forest Officer, in turn, had the property inspected by his staff, and eventually granted Ext. P7 permission. But before Vinod could act under the permission, his mother, through her another son, complained that she had already questioned the petitioner's title to the property and a civil suit was pending. She, therefore, requested the Forest Officer to revoke Ext.P7 permission he had granted earlier. The first respondent did.